EPA Declares Outdoor Burning Ban for the Fort Hall Reservation

 (Seattle – Friday, August 13, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10 has issued a ban on all outdoor open burning on the Fort Hall Reservation effective Sunday, 1 a.m., Aug.15 and in effect until further notice. This ban is to protect air quality impacted by wildfire smoke from regional fires. 

  

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.

 

When air quality is expected to remain poor for more than 24 hours, the EPA declares a ban on open burning to prevent further deterioration of air quality and associated impacts on human health. Air quality conditions are influenced by factors such as wind, temperature, and time of day, as well as the location, size, and control strategy for regional wildfires. EPA scientists use weather forecasts, satellite pictures, fire incident reports, and air quality models to forecast air quality for tribal communities and predict when burn bans should be declared.  

 

To check current air quality conditions at your location 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. For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency, fire department, or the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality http://idsmoke.blogspot.com/.