DEQ lifts statewide air quality caution

BOISE — Due to improving air quality conditions, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality is lifting its statewide air quality forecast and caution. However, air quality forecast and cautions and related open burn bans remain in effect for specific Idaho counties that continue to be impacted by wildfire smoke.

Thirty-four counties, including Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties, remain under regional air quality forecast and cautions issued today. All open outdoor burning is prohibited.

“Wildfire smoke continues to impact all of Idaho to some degree with significant impacts in central Idaho and the Panhandle and is expected to continue over the next several days,” DEQ Smoke Management Program Coordinator Mark Boyle said. “Light-to-moderate impacts in most areas in southern portions of Idaho are expected over the weekend as conditions continue to improve over the next few days.”