Air quality remained Good throughout the northwest yesterday

Air quality remained Good throughout much of the Northwest yesterday (Source USFS Airfire) Air quality is forecast to remain in the Good category on a 24hr average across Idaho again today

Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal through today.

Several small fires have been reported in Idaho this week. Fortunately these have remained small and not impacted local air quality with great significance or a long-term event. Unfortunately three fires in Eastern Idaho appear to have been started by target shooting http://www.idahofireinfo.com/. Firefighters are about halfway to containment of the 440,000 acre Martin Fire in Nevada. That’s one to watch for a while as this fire has the potential to impact areas of Southern Idaho. Smoke impacts are expected to be minimal through today.

What is an air quality Forecast and Caution and how does it impact me?

During wildfire season, you will likely see DEQ issue an air quality Forecast and Caution to inform the public when smoke concentrations have reached, or are forecasted to reach and persist, at levels likely to affect your health.  A Forecast and Caution is intended to help you make informed health choices for the day and to limit further buildup of pollution in the affected areas.

The Forecast and Caution will include specific warnings and advice to those most susceptible to the effects of smoke.  It also prohibits intentional open burning on state and federal lands until the Forecast and Caution is lifted.

Let’s hope we have very little need for any Forecast and Cautions notices this summer and avoid wildfires altogether!

For more information go to http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/monitoring/air-pollution-emergencies/

Idaho could experience an above-normal wildfire season this summer. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) suggests planning your wildfire response now to keep your family safe and limit exposure to wildfire smoke.

According to National Interagency Fire Center’s Predictive Services forecasts, Idaho is expected to be above normal for significant wildland fire potential in July and August. View their June forecast summary here. https://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

 

DEQ recommends taking the following steps to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season:

• Bookmark air quality reporting websites. Many of these websites display current air quality conditions and provide links to smoke forecasts and ways to help you plan ahead. Recommended air quality websites are listed below.

• Do your research and make a plan. Develop a family evacuation plan, work with your doctor on a prescription medicine plan, or equip your home with clean air resources. It all takes time, so start working now on the best solutions for your family.

Idaho Environmental Quality Real-Time Air Monitoring http://airquality.deq.idaho.gov/

Idaho Environmental Quality Smoke Blog (Managed July through September) http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/

Idaho Health and Welfare https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/Health/EnvironmentalHealth/WildfireSmoke/tabid/2172/Default.aspx

EPA’s Air Quality Index reporting https://www.airnow.gov/

U.S. Forest Service PNW Research Station’s Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Laboratory https://tools.airfire.org/

2017 Idaho Wildfire Season Recap

Notice: This blog is not routinely managed after the Idaho wildfire season has effectively concluded. If you are looking for air quality information when wildfires are not active in Idaho please consider visiting Idaho Department of Environmental Quality's air quality forecast and burn map page at: http://www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/monitoring/daily-reports-and-forecasts .

Idaho Wildfire Season Recap
Fire starts began in July and continued into August. By early August wildfire smoke began to impact Idaho’s residents. By the first week of September under warm and very dry conditions wildfire smoke thoroughly blanketed all of Idaho exposing many of Idaho citizens to potentially serious health impacts. The most severe air quality impacts this season were experienced in communities in north and central Idaho where Hazardous Conditions were measured for four days in the Coeur d’Alene area.

September number of days with Hazardous air quality from PM2.5 Particulate Pollution
 
Wildfires burned on over 5 million acres in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and British Columbia Canada combined. Over 700,000 acres were affected by wildfire in Idaho this year.

• Idaho wildfires in 2017 released over 111,000 tons of direct fine particulate pollution (PM_2.5) into the air. This is equal to 10 times the amount of particulate pollution that all the cars and trucks in Idaho emit over a three year period.