Smoke blows through Coeur d'Alene from Washington fire

COEUR d'ALENE — Smoke that was heavy in the air around Coeur d'Alene on Wednesday came from fires burning west of the Cascade Mountains, the National Weather Service said.

Residents can continue to expect hazy skies as smoke moves west to east on air currents. 

The Air Quality Index projections for Coeur d’Alene dipped from green into orange for Wednesday and today and were deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Outdoor burning is banned until the air quality improves.

The projection for Friday has the air quality moving to yellow.

Smoke rolling through the area comes from the Bear Gulch Fire burning in the Olympic National Forest, according to reporting from KREM-2. 

Smoke is being blown over mountains, which causes it to be pushed into the mid-levels of the atmosphere and not close to the ground, where it would impact the AQI.

As winds blow out of the west, smoke will continue to sit over much of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. 

According to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, the Northwest geographic area is experiencing above-normal significant wildfire potential.

    Smoke was visible throughout the day Wednesday over Lake Coeur d'Alene. Representatives from the National Weather Service in Spokane said the smoke is from fires burning west of the Cascade Mountains.