The Fires That Are Causing Health Threats To Southern Idahoans

Many southern Idahoans put plans to work or play outside over the weekend on hold due to the poor air quality from a handful of fires burning in the region. I had plans to add another 15 feet of fencing to our property that I postponed because the air was so bad that it was giving me a headache.

The air smelled like burnt toast this past weekend, causing a great many people in southern Idaho to stay indoors and run the air conditioner all afternoon. One area fire was contained Sunday evening, while a few more continue to scorch land in the southwestern portion of the state.

As I stood outside the radio station Monday at 7 A.M., the sun was blood-red and blurry from smoke drifting in from more than 150 miles to the west. By Sunday evening, the Scorp Fire that had torched nearly 5,000 acres was fully contained.

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Air Quality In Southern Idaho Continues To Be Extremely Poor Due To Several Fires

Park Avenue in Twin Falls was smoky Monday morning. Credit: Greg Jannetta

There are currently three more fires burning along the Oregon-Idaho border that are contributing to the bad air in the Magic Valley. The Peer, Hopper, Duke, and Big Grass fires are still active and demanding attention from fire crews in multiple states, according to details from Western Fire Chiefs.

READ MORE: Charges Filed Against California Man In Fire Near Hailey, Idaho

The Duncan Fire has blackened desert lands southwest of Bruneau and currently stands at 100 percent containment, having consumed nearly 17,000 acres, according to Watch Duty.

Those with preexisting lung or heart problems and young children should stay out of the smoke and wait for conditions to improve.

Smoke mixes with sunlight July 27 at Falls Ave in Twin Falls   Credit: Greg Jannetta