(Seattle – Monday, July 12, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, in coordination with the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation, has issued a ban on all outdoor open burning on the Fort Hall Reservation. This ban is to protect air quality impacted by wildfire smoke from regional fires and is in effect until further notice.
The burn ban applies to
all outdoor and agricultural burning—including 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.
EPA requests that
reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution as much as possible,
including fireworks, driving and idling of vehicles because air
pollution has harmful health effects that can persist. Community
cooperation with the ban will help people who are most at risk.
Many people are at high
risk from smoke: children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with
asthma or difficulty breathing. Those with diabetes, heart problems or
otherwise compromised health are also at risk. As much as possible,
these people should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to
outdoor pollution. Under the most severe pollution levels all residents
should restrict their activities. To check 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. There
may be additional fire safety burn bans or air advisories in
effect on reservations. For burning restrictions in areas outside
reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency, fire
department, or the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.
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