Statewide air quality advisory and burn ban continues

Update August 21, 2015: The statewide air quality advisory has been extended. The statewide burn ban remains in effect for the rest of the weekend. The Department of Environmental Quality will issue another update Monday, August 24 at 2:00 p.m.

Smoke impacts from wildfires have prompted the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to issue a statewide air quality advisory.

This advisory is in effect through 2 p.m. Thursday, at which time conditions will be evaluated again on a county-by-county basis. This advisory does not apply to lands within Indian reservation boundaries or to activities associated with fire suppression.

“Air quality is in the Moderate to Unhealthy categories throughout most of the state and is forecast to remain that way for the next 24 to 36 hours,” DEQ Smoke Management Program Coordinator Morrie Lewis said.

Under this advisory, all open burning is prohibited, including campfires, recreational fires, weed control burning, and residential burning.