Air Quality Alert Issued For Southern Idaho Due To Wildfire Smoke

With wildfires raging all around Idaho and neighboring states to the west, the air quality due to smoke continues to degrade.

The air at times this weekend will be at dangerous levels and outdoor activities could cause serious health issues.

DEQ Issues Air Quality Advisory for Southern Idaho

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued an air quality advisory to residents in some Southern Idaho counties. Due to smoke from surrounding wildfires, the air quality has degraded to unsafe levels in Blaine, Camas, Gooding, Lincoln, Jerome, and Twin Falls Counties. Garden City, Idaho City, and Garden Valley are all reported as Very Unhealthy or Hazardous today.

The Idaho DEQ advisory for August 30th and into the Labor Day weekend states:

• August 30th: UNHEALTHY
  • Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
• August 31st: UNHEALTHY for Sensitive Groups
  • Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
• September 1st: MODERATE
  • Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

Sensitive groups include:

children, the elderly, as well as persons with respiratory problems. Those individuals who are sensitive to increased particulate matter or smoke are encouraged to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activity during this advisory. Open burning is prohibited by air quality rule. It is also recommended that all other individuals limit prolonged or strenuous activity outdoors.

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There are a number of large fires burning near Southern Idaho affecting the air quality, including the Wapiti Fire in the Stanley area of Idaho.

RELATED STORY: Why the Wapiti Fire is Such a Big Deal for Idaho

The Wapiti Fire is now reported to have burned over 92 thousand acres.