The air quality forecast was ‘moderate.’ So why is the Boise area such a smoky mess?
Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality predicted a level of yellow, or “moderate,” air quality for Wednesday in the Treasure Valley. But around noon, measurements in the area were either orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) or red (unhealthy).
The big difference? The Paddock Fire, burning north of Emmett, “blew up” on Tuesday and overnight, according to Michael Toole, DEQ regional airshed coordinator.
“It really exploded,” Toole said. “It is really active and really pumping a lot of smoke out.”
The Paddock Fire is one of dozens that were ignited when storms brought hundreds of lightning strikes to Southwest Idaho on Monday. The fire had burned 2,500 acres by noon Tuesday — and that had exploded to 118,000 acres just over 24 hours later, the Bureau of Land Management said on social media.
The blaze has prompted evacuations north of Baldwin Corner, according to the BLM’s social media pages. Residents of Ola have been warned to prepare for possible evacuation, the post said.
BLM officials also said a firefighting team from Nevada would take command of the fire on Thursday.
Unfortunately, the smoke looks like it’s only going to get worse, according to Les Colin, senior forecaster for the National Weather Service in Boise. There are still active fires in eastern Oregon and California that are sending smoke in this general direction.
“From my experience here, I’ve been … here over 40 years, I would say this is the smokiest summer we’ve had,” Colin said. “Until they (the fires) can be controlled or put out … we’re going to be smoky for the foreseeable future, and that’s at least 10 more days.”
There were some reports to the Statesman of ash on cars and decks in the Boise area Wednesday morning. The Paddock Fire is close enough to be causing ash to fall, Colin said, though he had not received such reports.
The air quality is expected to be in the orange level in the Treasure Valley in the coming days, according to Toole. The Department of Environmental Quality released an air quality advisory with that forecast on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t see anything really changing based on the information I have now,” Toole said. “But again, like it did from yesterday to today, things can change overnight.”
Bogus Basin Road fire
Adding to the smoke in the air temporarily on Wednesday, especially for people in Boise’s North End and Foothills locations, was a vegetation fire that ignited along Bogus Basin Road near N. Horse Trail Lane.
The fire, which burned about 2 acres, initially threatened 10 to 12 houses, the Boise Fire Department said at a press conference, but fire crews worked quickly to protect all structures and get the blaze contained.
Firefighters planned to keep a presence at the site for several hours Wednesday because of expected gusty winds in the afternoon, the department said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
This story was originally published August 7, 2024 at 2:58 PM.
