DEQ forecasts continued haze

Fires in Idaho, Oregon and Washington, in combination with weather conditions, have proliferated heavy smoke across the North Idaho sky for several weeks, affecting air quality for thousands of Idaho residents, a trend that the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality forecasts will continue. 

Widespread smoke and haze will continue to impact the region over the next few days, especially in the vicinity of or downwind of regional wildfires, per a DEQ press release. 

It forecasts North Idaho's AQI will remain in the unhealthy to moderate categories throughout the week. 

While crews still work to contain several Idaho wildfires, the Idaho Department of Lands continues to keep the Coeur d'Alene area under a stage 1 fire restriction.  

IDL's stage 1 restriction bans building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire or stove fire except within a designated recreation site or on their own land and only within an owner-provided fire structure. It also bans smoking, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated recreation site or while stopped in an area at least 3 feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials.