Idaho Smoke Map

Idaho Smoke Map Legend

**(Preliminary Data Warning: Data found on the map shown below is preliminary and is subject to change. Data is in local standard time format - no adjustment for daylight savings time.)

Monday, May 4, 2020

It's Air Quality Awareness Week!!


If you’re from Idaho you know that wildfire season is nearly upon us and if you’re new to Idaho, here’s your warning: Wildfire season is almost here! And where there’s fire, there’s smoke. Not only will smoke take away your chance to see our beautiful Idaho scenery, you could have an itchy throat, watery eyes, and trouble breathing if you do head outside.

Smoke is particularly harmful for the elderly, the very young, pregnant people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There are things you can do to protect yourself from smoke impacts though. First and foremost, prepare your home for a season of smoke – check your home for air leaks, get as good of a filter as you can, and prepare to hunker down if you’re one of those smoke sensitive individuals. You could even create a clean air room in your home with an air cleaner. If that isn’t possible, look to public health officials to identify clean air spaces that you can visit and get some relief from the smoke.

If you do go outside, there are two easy steps you can do before you head out for the day – and you can do both right here on this blog. Start by checking the AQI map and seeing the air quality nearest you or where you plan to play. Secondly, during the wildfire season there will be a smoke forecast posted each day to let you know what kind of smoke impacts are expected for the day (start checking back in June). Using these tools, take action to protect yourself based on your personal level of tolerance and sensitivity to smoke.

So before you go, take a moment to check out this blog and get familiar with the information available here. Read through some old posts on health (Particulate Matter, Protect Yourself, Filters, Air Quality) . Click through the tabs at the top and tour the links. You’ve got some time to prepare but don’t leave it too late! Summer is coming and with it will come wildfire smoke.