Wildfire smoke impacts burning season

LAPWAI - Numerous wildfires burning in Washington, Oregon and Idaho were responsible for poor air quality conditions on the Nez Perce Reservation during August and early September.

Although the majority of the smoke came from the Columbia Complex near Dayton, WA, smoke from the Heaven's Gate and South Fork Complexes in central Idaho and the Twin Lakes Fire in northeast Oregon also impacted the reservation. These wildfires influenced this area because of their size, proximity, spatial relationship with respect to weather patterns, and/or topographical relationship to the Clearwater Airshed. The poor air quality conditions resulted in limited or no agricultural burning being allowed within the exterior boundaries of the reservation during that time.

From Aug. 10 through 27, air quality, ventilation, or fuel conditions were so poor that no agricultural burning occurred. The Tribe issued burn bans from Aug. 23 through 25 and again on Aug. 30 due to wildfire smoke. During these same days in August last year, 5,900 acres were burned.

Throughout the first week in September, poor conditions remained and the Tribe issued a burn ban from Sept. 5 through 7. When burn bans are instated no agricultural burn permits are approved.

Through a delegation agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Tribe has the authority to issue burn permits, and determine burn bans and air pollution episodes under certain provisions of the Federal Air Rules for Reservations (FARR). The Tribe issues permits for agricultural, forestry, residential outdoor and other large outdoor burning.

For the latest up-to-date information about air quality and burning on the Nez Perce Reservation please contact the Tribe's Air Quality Hotline at 208-843-9381 or 1-800-720-4089.