What is Boise’s air quality today? See real-time updates here as wildfires affect Idaho

The 2024 wildfire season has gotten off to a blazing start in the Pacific Northwest.

One of the largest wildfires in the United States has been burning in eastern Oregon since July 17, while the Park Fire in Northern California has quickly grown into one of the largest wildfires in California history .

Both fires have been sending smoke toward the Treasure Valley, blocking off the blue sky and shrouding the foothills that typically dominate above Boise.

The Gem State hasn’t escaped the heat, either. Idaho has seen a few smaller fires this year, including the Bench Lake wildfire , which threatened the Redfish Lake Lodge , and the 27,714-acre Gwen Fire in Latah County, which was 0% contained as of Monday.

Idaho’s fire season typically begins in June but ramps up through July and August, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association .

What is Boise’s air quality with all this wildfire smoke in the air? And what does each severity level mean for Idaho residents?

The following embed will automatically update with information on Boise’s air quality.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality measures air quality for the Gem State. The department updates the air quality every 15 minutes at 24 locations in Idaho, including four locations throughout the Treasure Valley.

The index calculates the number of pollutants in the air, considering how large the pollutant molecules are and the severity of the pollutant, and produces a number between zero and 500.

Good air quality, which would fall under the green level of concern, is between zero and 50. The index then slowly increases through six levels up to maroon, a hazardous air quality, with the index above 301.

Sign Up for the Idaho Way