Unfortunately, smoke will remain widespread across the state today.
Moderate to moderately severe smoke will persist across North Idaho and the Snake River Plain today. Overnight, smoke and haze will settle into valleys and other low-lying areas under temperature inversions. As temperatures begin to increase tomorrow morning and inversions break, we will experience increased circulation.
EPA Announces an Air Quality Advisory and Ban on
Open Burning for the Kootenai Reservation
Contact Information: EPA Region 10 Press Office
(r10_press_team@epa.gov
)
Seattle (July 31, 2026) — U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and Kootenai Tribe of Idaho issued an air quality advisory
and ban on open burning on the Kalispel Reservation due to increases wildfire
smoke from multiple fires in Washington. This advisory and burn ban is effective
immediately and will continue until further notice.
Smoke from these fires will impact the reservation today and
through the weekend and as a result, intermittent periods of Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups and Unhealthy air quality are expected,
based on EPA's Air Quality Index.
These same conditions may continue into next week. EPA is using agency’s
resources to monitor air quality and provide the public with timely access to
our data. People should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor
pollution as much as possible. For more health information, visit Wildfire Smoke Readiness and Response for Region 10
Tribes. The agency will do everything in our authority to continue
to protect human health and the environment.
To
check conditions in your area, visit the EPA AirNow website. For a list of
current burn bans on Tribal lands, call the EPA Federal Air Rules for
Reservations Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit EPA’s FARR website.
Near-surface smoke will remain widespread across the state through Friday as ongoing wildfire activity across the Pacific Northwest continues to generate and transport smoke eastward. Moderate to moderately severe smoke will persist across North Idaho and the Snake River Plain today. Overnight, lingering smoke and haze will become trapped beneath inversions, allowing smoke to settle into valleys and other low-lying areas. As temperatures begin to increase Tuesday morning, inversions will begin to break and allow for better circulation across the state.
Air Quality Advisories are in effect for western portion of the state, as well as several southeastern counties. Check the Outdoor Burn Map to see if your county is affected.
NOAA GOES-West GeoColor
(true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:26 UTC (9:26 a.m. MDT) on 3
August 2026 shows widespread areas
of smoke are visible over Washington, Central Oregon, and most of Idaho.
