Unhealthy air persists

COEUR d’ALENE — Air quality remains unhealthy throughout North Idaho as smoke blows in from neighboring states and Canada.

North winds have brought smoke from active fires in British Columbia and Washington, according to the National Weather Service.

The National Weather Service in Spokane said an air quality alert was issued Thursday for Bonner, Kootenai, Benewah and Shoshone counties. It remains in effect through 10 a.m. Monday.

An air quality advisory also went into effect Friday for Kootenai and Benewah County on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation.

Spokane’s air quality index was very unhealthy Friday afternoon.

Everyone should limit outdoor exposure and sensitive people — including older adults, children and teens and people with heart and lung disease — should be especially cautious.

When wildfire smoke sets in, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that people stay inside and close windows and doors.

A cold front set to arrive Sunday may bring some relief.

The front is expected to bring more seasonable temperatures, which will continue to drop throughout the week.

Calm winds may help moderate the behavior of area wildfires, including the Character Complex burning north of the Silver Valley.

The Deceitful Fire was close to the Coeur d’Alene River Road late Thursday, officials said. Burn operations reportedly helped secure the fire line in the area.

The fire was 15% contained as of late Thursday.

Meanwhile, the neighboring Prichard Fire remains 100% contained.

To the south, crews continued working Friday toward full containment of the fires in the Stateline Complex.

The complex is burning on the St. Joe Ranger District of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, to the south and west of the Idaho-Montana state line.

The Tumbledown Fire, the largest in the complex, has burned about 9,300 acres so far, mostly in rugged terrain.

It remains 20% contained as of late Friday.

The Dolly Creek Fire is 81% contained, with full containment projected this week.