Distant Wildfire Smoke Blankets Boise Valley, Raising Health Alarms

As of August 23rd, 2025, a wildfire burning hundreds of miles away has blanketed the Boise area in a thick haze, significantly impacting air quality and raising health concerns for local residents. The National Weather Service reports that the smoke is originating from the Island Creek Fire, a nearly 7,000-acre blaze in north-central Idaho that was first detected on August 1st.

Despite the distance, the smoke from this fire has somehow made its way south, enveloping much of Southwest Idaho over the past 24 hours. The weather service warns that the situation is expected to "get worse before it gets better," with forecasts indicating the hazy conditions will linger throughout the weekend, with Saturday being the worst.

In response, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued a "moderate" air quality forecast, deeming the air "unhealthy for sensitive groups." This means that younger children and individuals with respiratory conditions could be at risk, and the authorities are advising residents to limit outdoor activities and exposure to the smoke if possible.