Cooperative Smoke Message for Prescribed Burning

 

 

News Release –

Cooperative Smoke Management for Prescribed Fire

Date: October 1, 2026

Prescribed fire is an important tool for both the forestry and agricultural communities. Fire benefits the ecosystem by decreasing or slowing diseases, stimulating growth, and reducing the potential for severe wildfires. Prescribed burning only occurs when it is allowed by fire and smoke management authorities.

Smoke is a byproduct of all sources of fire. Therefore, when managing smoke, a number of factors are considered to determine if prescribed fire will be allowed.  These include:

§  the number of fires burning or planned in the area

§  the amount of smoke already in the airshed

§  the current and projected weather and air quality conditions

§  coordination between agencies and other landowners that conduct and/or manage prescribed fire

It’s important to know that local and regional fires affect air quality. Smoke can travel long distances, so fires in other areas can impact our air. Our agencies work together to manage smoke from prescribed fire and share information with the public. 

For all smoke comments and concerns, call the following number:

Smoke Hotline: 1-800-345-1007

For updates on air quality, wildfires, and prescribed burning in our area, visit:

·         Idaho Smoke Information Blog: idsmoke.blogspot.com

·         MT/ID Airshed Group Prescribed Burning Map: mi.airshedgroup.org/current-burns

·         Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - Fire Information:

o   Website: www.fs.usda.gov/r01/nezperce-clearwater

o   Social Media: www.facebook.com/NPClwNFs 

Agency Contacts:

Alfred Allman, Idaho Department of Lands, Maggie Creek Area - Kamiah, 208-935-2141
 Kevin Barger, Bureau of Land Management, 208-962-3245
Johna Boulafentis, Nez Perce Tribe Air Quality, 208-843-9381
Kevin Chafee, Idaho Department of Lands, Craig Mountain Area - Craigmont, 208-924-5571 
Philip Hagihara, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, 208-799-4370
Jeff Handel, Nez Perce Tribe Forestry and Fire Management, 208-843-2827
Heather Heward, Idaho Prescribed Fire Council, 208-596-5338
Taylor Spence, Idaho Department of Lands, Ponderosa Area – Deary, 208-877-1121 
Paul Corrigan, Montana Idaho Airshed Group, 801-440-1350
Kane Steinbruecker, Clearwater Potlatch Timber Protective Association, 208-476-5612 
Jim Wimer, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, 208-935-6134

Clear skies?....well clear of smoke but not the rain

Near-surface smoke will remain very limited across much of Idaho today as continued unsettled weather, breezy winds, and precipitation provide good dispersion. Areas of light smoke and haze will persist across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain relatively clear, while a diffuse plume of light smoke lingers across portions of southwest Idaho and the Great Basin. 

Overnight into Friday morning, continued westerly to southwesterly flow and periods of precipitation will further reduce widespread near-surface smoke. Most smoke impacts will become confined to active wildfires and immediately downwind areas, with only scattered light smoke across portions of North and Central Idaho. South Idaho should remain largely free of widespread smoke, with any remaining Great Basin plume becoming increasingly diffuse.

Friday, cooler temperatures, scattered showers, and continued mixing will provide very good smoke dispersion across the state. The RRFS shows little organized near-surface smoke over Idaho, with only isolated light smoke near active fires and small pockets of transported smoke passing through portions of Central and East Idaho. Overall air quality should continue to improve, although localized impacts will remain possible near active wildfires. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible. 

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 3 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 3 September 2026

Good dispersion conditions on the way

Near-surface smoke will remain relatively limited across much of Idaho today as strong south to southwesterly flow and increasingly unsettled weather provides good dispersion. Areas of light smoke and haze will persist across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain relatively clear. A plume of smoke extending northward from California and southeast Oregon will continue affecting portions of southwest Idaho this afternoon, with mainly light to moderate concentrations. 

Overnight into Thursday morning, strengthening southwesterly flow and increasing precipitation will continue dispersing and transporting smoke northeastward. The plume across southwest Idaho will weaken considerably, leaving mainly light smoke across portions of southwest and south-central Idaho. Light smoke will remain scattered across North and Central Idaho, although increased concentrations may persist near active wildfires. Much of the state should be relatively free of widespread near-surface smoke by Thursday morning.

On Thursday, widespread showers, embedded thunderstorms, and breezy southwesterly winds will provide very good smoke dispersion across much of Idaho. The RRFS shows little widespread near-surface smoke remaining across North and Central Idaho, with impacts becoming increasingly confined to active wildfires and immediately downwind areas. Some light smoke transported northeastward from the Great Basin may pass through portions of South and East Idaho, but significant accumulation is not expected. Localized smoke impacts will remain possible near active wildfires, but overall air quality should improve as cooler, wetter, and breezy conditions continue. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 2 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 2 September 2026 

Relatively limited surface smoke today

Near-surface smoke will remain relatively limited across much of Idaho today, with localized impacts near active wildfires and a more organized area of smoke moving into western Idaho. Areas of light smoke and haze are expected across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate concentrations near active fires. Across South Idaho, much of the Snake River Plain and East Idaho will remain comparatively clear, while south to southwesterly flow transports smoke northward from California into southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho. Light to moderate smoke is expected to spread across portions of southwest and west-central Idaho this afternoon. 

Overnight into Wednesday morning, continued south to southwesterly flow will carry the California smoke plume northward through western Idaho. Light to moderate smoke may extend from southwest Idaho into the West Central Mountains, while smoke concentrations gradually decrease farther south as the plume shifts northward. Areas of light smoke will also persist across North and Central Idaho, with localized moderate concentrations near active wildfires. Much of East Idaho should remain relatively clear of widespread near-surface smoke.

Wednesday, strengthening southwesterly winds and increasing shower and thunderstorm activity should improve smoke dispersion across much of the state. The plume affecting western Idaho will become increasingly diffuse as it shifts north and northeast, leaving mainly light smoke and haze across portions of southwest and Central Idaho by Wednesday afternoon. North Idaho will continue to see areas of light smoke with localized higher concentrations near active fires. Gusty winds and thunderstorm outflows may cause rapid localized changes in plume direction, but widespread smoke accumulation should remain limited. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires with periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 06Z (12 a.m. MDT) 1 September 2026 and valid at 6 p.m. MDT 1 September 2026

Light smoke and haze today; rain may be on the way this week

Near-surface smoke will be relatively limited across much of Idaho today, with the greatest impacts remaining near active wildfires. Areas of light smoke and haze are expected across portions of North and Central Idaho, with moderate to heavy concentrations near active fires. North Idaho will see scattered areas of light smoke, particularly across the Panhandle, while light smoke and haze impact portions of the Central Mountains. Across South Idaho, most areas will remain relatively clear of widespread near-surface smoke, although wildfire plumes will continue across portions of southwest Idaho and near active fires.

Overnight into Tuesday morning, smoke will remain generally localized as winds decrease and concentrations become more terrain driven. Smoke may settle into valleys and sheltered areas near active wildfires across North and Central Idaho, producing moderate concentrations. The RRFS model also shows smoke from southeast Oregon expanding toward southwest Idaho overnight, with light to moderate smoke potentially reaching portions of the western Idaho border and southwest Idaho by Tuesday morning. The Snake River Plain and East Idaho should remain comparatively less impacted.

Tuesday, increasing south to southwesterly flow will push additional smoke northward from southeast Oregon into southwest and west-central Idaho. Light to moderate smoke may become more widespread across portions of southwest Idaho and the West Central Mountains during the afternoon, with heavier concentrations near active fires and immediately downwind. Scattered light smoke will continue across North and Central Idaho, while much of East Idaho remains relatively clear. Increasing winds Tuesday afternoon and evening should keep smoke moving and limit widespread accumulation, although rapidly changing plume directions will be possible near active wildfires. The highest AQI levels are expected near active wildfires and within localized smoke plumes, where periods of UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS air quality are possible.

NOAA GOES-West GeoColor (true color) visible satellite image captured at 15:21 UTC (9:21 a.m. MDT) on 31 August 2026