Smoky skies return

COEUR d'ALENE - Large wildfires in Oregon and California are contributing to the smoky skies in North Idaho this week, but so far local air quality remains in the "good" range.

"As of right now there are no fires in the immediate area of Kootenai or Benewah counties," said Shane O'Shea from the Idaho Department of Lands. "Predominantly, a lot of the smoke is coming from the new large fires in Oregon and northern California."

O'Shea said the department has opened burning permits as well, and some of those permitted burns are contributing to the smoke as well.

"There are a lot of people trying to catch up on burning their yard waste, and that is contributing to the smoky conditions in our area," he said.

Ralph Paul, airshed coordinator for Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, said the smoke has reached the unhealthy level for sensitive people in the Lewiston area, but air quality improves to the north.

"Around here it is worse in the St. Maries area, where the smoke is in the moderate range," he said. "We are in the good range."

Heather Keen, public relations director for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, said 7,564 acres of grass fields have been burned on the reservation this season, but burning has not been allowed since Sept. 11.

Keen said burning will not resume until the weather conditions improve with ventilating winds.

"Our smoke management department works closely with a meteorologist each day to ensure that burning is only permitted when conditions will allow for minimal impacts on the community," Keen said. "The Tribe will likely permit burning throughout the fall - depending on conditions of course.

"Anyone who wants to burn their fields on the reservation is required to register and must have permission each day or face a fine."

Paul said there is only one farm on the Rathdrum Prairie that burns grass fields. The Meyer family has contacted the IDEQ to say they are ready to burn.

"They indicated they were ready, but their fields greened over, so we are waiting for the right conditions," he said.

Paul said green fields burn too slowly and produce a lot of extra smoke, so the farmers will have to wait until the grass browns a little bit.

As for the Tribe, Keen said there is no time limit to complete the field burning on the reservation.

"As long as the weather conditions permit and of course as long as there are farmers still requesting permits, we'll allow it throughout the fall pretty much up until the snow flies," she said.