Air Quality Advisory and Open Burn Ban for Kootenai Reservation

 EPA Issues Air Quality Advisory and Ban on Open Burning for the Kootenai Reservation

(Seattle—Wednesday, May 17, 2023) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, in coordination with the Kootenai Tribe, has issued an air quality advisory and a ban on open burning on the Kootenai Reservation due to the elevated pollution levels caused by wildland fires in Alberta, Canada. Weather forecasts indicate poor air quality and this burn ban is in effect immediately and will end at noon, Saturday, May 20.

   

The burn ban applies to all outdoor burning - including agricultural, camping and recreational fires - in all areas within external reservation boundaries regardless of ownership or tribal membership. Ceremonial and traditional fires are exempt from the burn ban. 

 

Air pollution can harm health and may have lasting effects. To protect vulnerable people, EPA requests that reservation residents reduce all additional sources of air pollution, such as automobile exhaust, as much as possible.  

 

People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke such as people with heart disease or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people. Sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that residents restrict activity and use N95 masks. 

  

When air quality is expected to remain poor for more than 24 hours, the EPA declares a ban on open burning to prevent further deterioration of air quality and associated impacts on human health. Air quality conditions are influenced by factors such as wind, temperature, and time of day, as well as the location, size, and control strategy for regional wildfires. EPA scientists use weather forecasts, satellite pictures, fire incident reports, and air quality models to forecast air quality for tribal communities and predict when burn bans should be declared.     

  

To check air quality conditions in your area, go to https://fire.airnow.gov/.  For current burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit   

https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans. For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department.