Wildfire smoke chokes eastern Idaho as air quality alerts expand across region
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IDAHO FALLS – As wildfires across eastern Idaho create lingering smoke in the air, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued a degraded air quality advisory.
On Monday, the department reported that air quality in Bannock, Bingham, Caribou, Oneida and Power counties was at unhealthy levels for sensitive groups. The advisory continued through Wednesday.
RELATED | Air quality advisory in effect for portions of eastern Idaho as wildfire smoke lingers
As of Thursday morning, a new air quality advisory has been issued for Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties. During the advisory, the DEQ says people with cardiovascular sensitivities “may experience health effects.”
“The general public is less likely to be affected,” the department says in its alert to local media.’
Multiple fires across the region are causing the degraded air quality — the latest of which is the Byrne Side Fire. The human-caused blaze in the area of 9000 South and 1600 East, the Sunnydell area south of Rexburg, is the result of a spark from grinding operations during repairs on a railroad bridge, according to the Madison Fire Department.
RELATED | New fire burns in Madison County
On Wednesday night, fire officials said the blaze “is being considered a hazard fire associated with the Big Rock Fire” near Heise. Road closures were in place on Wednesday as firefighters battled the flames from the air and the ground.
The latest report from the Eastern Idaho Interagency Fire Center indicates the fire is 150 acres. Efforts to contain the fire got underway on Thursday morning. No injuries have been reported in connection with this fire.
Three fires near Spokane, Washington, that have displaced tens of thousands of people, and a wildfire in Oregon are also contributing to the smoky conditions Thursday morning.
After cooler conditions the last several days, the National Weather Service in Pocatello is forecasting a warming trend through the rest of the week. Temperatures are expected to be in the low to mid-90s for most of the area on Thursday, according to the agency’s Wednesday night Facebook post. Driggs, Island Park and Soda Springs will see temperatures in the upper 80s.
Temperatures are likely to remain in the low to mid-90s through at least Tuesday, and dry conditions will continue through the weekend.
“High pressure over the area means we will be staying dry through the weekend with warming temperatures,” meteorologists with the Pocatello bureau say in a Thursday morning Facebook post. “Very small rain/storm chances return early next week! Here’s to hoping we see some rainfall next week when our pattern changes just a bit.”
During this time, burn bans remain in place for most of the state. That means outdoor burning, including campfires, is not allowed. Officials are also asking people to avoid flying drones over wildfire areas.
EastIdahoNews.com will provide updates as we receive them. For the latest conditions and a complete seven-day forecast in your area, click here.
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