Wildfires in Central Oregon bring smoke, unhealthy air to Boise area
Smoke from ongoing wildfires in Central Oregon is affecting air quality in the Treasure Valley.
The Air Quality Index in the Boise area on Saturday ranges from 80 to 130, making it unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the National Weather Service in Boise.
“If you’re going out, the main things to keep in mind are to avoid strenuous outdoor activity and try to avoid areas with smoke where it is hazy, and you can’t see further than five miles,” said Jackson Macfarlane, a meteorologist with NWS. “That’s an indication that the smoke is settling and staying concentrated.
“The Department of Environmental Quality out of Oregon and both the Idaho Environmental Quality Department recommend staying inside if you can, closing the windows and doors, and then if you have access to them, using air filters inside.”
The highest AQI readings in the Treasure Valley on Saturday have been in Star, Macfarlane said, with some readings reaching as high as 154, which is considered unhealthy for the general public.
The projected high temperature for Boise on Saturday is 100, according to NWS, with some areas near the Idaho-Oregon border likely to surpass that mark.
The heat will continue through the weekend, Macfarlane said, with Monday’s high projected to be 102.
“Monday we’re supposed to be well above the 100-degree mark for afternoon highs,” Macfarlane said. “The chance of storms gets higher Tuesday onward. So this kind of hot, stormy monsoonal pattern is just set to continue through the week.”
This story was originally published July 18, 2026 at 1:23 PM.
