Idaho DEQ lifts AQA for counties in Southcentral and Southeast Idaho

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

BOISE — Due to improving air quality conditions, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is lifting the Air Quality Forecast and Caution for specific counties in Southcentral and Southeast Idaho.

Counties identified below and in the accompanying map in the Panhandle, Northcentral, and Southwest areas of Idaho remain under regional air quality advisories issued today. All open burning is prohibited under these regional air quality advisories, including campfires, recreational fires, weed control burning, and residential burning.

·         Boundary

·         Bonner

·         Kootenai

·         Benewah

·         Shoshone

·         Latah

·         Clearwater

·         Nez Perce

·         Lewis

·         Idaho

·         Adams

·         Valley

·         Washington

·         Payette

·         Gem

·         Boise

·         Canyon

·         Ada

·         Elmore

·         Owyhee

·         Lemhi

“Wildfire smoke continues to impact all of Idaho to some degree, with significant impacts in north Idaho and light-to-moderate impacts in areas of south Idaho expected over the next several days,” said DEQ’s Smoke Management Program Coordinator Morrie Lewis.

Daily updates on air quality conditions at various locations in Idaho are available on DEQ's Air Quality Reports and Forecasts and Current Wildfire Smoke Information webpages. For areas where air quality monitors are not available, the Visibility Range and AQI Table can help determine the necessary precautions to take.

For information on the health effects of exposure to wildfire smoke, visit the Department of Health and Welfare's blog.

DEQ is lifting the Air Quality Forecast & Caution for specific counties in Southcentral and Southeast Idaho Date/Time Lifted: Tuesday, August 25, 2015/3:00 p.m. Next Update: refer to regional reports and forecasts

Due to improving air quality conditions in southern Idaho, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is lifting the statewide Air Quality Forecast and Caution. Wildfire smoke continues to impact many areas of Idaho, and DEQ air quality advisories remain in place for counties in the Panhandle, Northcentral, and Southwest regions of Idaho outside of reservation boundaries. Please refer to regional reports and forecasts for specific information on these areas. Light-to-moderate smoke impacts may also be experienced across southern Idaho.

Contact

For more information, contact the nearest DEQ Regional Office at www.deq.idaho.gov/regional-offices-issues. For real-time air monitoring information, visit DEQ’s website at airquality.deq.idaho.gov. For more information about wildfire smoke, visit Idaho’s Smoke Blog at idsmoke.blogspot.com.

Air Quality Index (AQI):

Range Category Meaning 0 to 50 Good Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk 51 to 100 Moderate Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. 101 to 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected. 151 to 200 Unhealthy Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. 201 to 300 Very Unhealthy Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. 301 to 500 Hazardous Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.

For more information on the AQI, read EPA’s AQI brochure at http://www.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_02_14.pdf.

* Sensitive groups for particulate matter include those with heart and lung disease, older adults, and children. Sensitive groups for ozone include those with lung disease, older adults, and children.