Central Idaho Socked in with Smoke

With the warm and dry conditions, smoke production has continued to increase across the Central Mountains. Overnight, the Island Creek Fire 14 miles east of Elk City, the Rock Fire 5 miles northwest of Donnelly, the Mire Fire 22 miles northwest of Powell, and several smaller fires across the East Central Mountains; along with other fires in central Oregon, western Wyoming, and western Montana have been the main smoke producers impacting Idaho. 

Smoke will linger over the Central Mountains and Clearwater Basin with limited clearing this afternoon before smoke returns overnight, while light to patchy smoke and haze will move into East Idaho, North Idaho, and the Treasure Valley this morning with limited clearing expected this afternoon and a return of light to patchy smoke overnight. 

Elsewhere, light smoke and haze is expected for most of the rest of the state with a brief reprieve in the afternoon before light smoke and haze fill in overnight. As temperatures decrease tonight, lingering smoke and haze can become trapped under surface temperature inversions and raise local AQI levels until the inversions break later in the morning. 

The highest AQI levels will be seen around those fires in the Central Mountains and the Clearwater Basin. Those areas could experience brief periods of VERY UNHEALTHY.

Video Source: RRFS Near Surface Smoke initialized 11Z (5 a.m. MDT) 25 August 2025.