Air Quality Alert Issued in Idaho, Washington Counties

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Government agencies and the National Weather Service are warning several Washington and Idaho counties about deteriorating air quality due to wildfire smoke.

The Spokesman-Review reports (http://is.gd/FGP46Z ) that Spokane, Whitman, Asotin, Chelan, Douglas and Garfield counties in Washington and Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties in Idaho are under an air quality alert. The air quality alert, which remains in effect through Friday morning, is coupled with a red flag warning for high fire danger in the region.

Officials say high temperatures combined with instability in atmospheric pressure could lead to major fire growth. Lightning-caused fires sparked in the southern parts of the region Monday as well as a series of new fires farther north.