LEWISTON, ID – State, federal, and tribal agencies are reminding residents that prescribed fire is a critical tool used by forestry and agricultural managers to improve ecosystem health and reduce the risk of severe wildfires. Officials say prescribed burning helps slow the spread of disease in forests, stimulate plant growth, and limit fuel buildup that can lead to large-scale fires.

Because smoke is an unavoidable byproduct of burning, multiple factors are weighed before fire managers approve a prescribed fire. These include the number of planned burns in the area, the amount of smoke already in the airshed, current and forecasted weather and air quality, and coordination between agencies and private landowners.

Authorities emphasize that smoke can travel long distances, meaning even fires outside the immediate region can affect local air quality. To address this, agencies work together to manage smoke impacts and provide timely updates to the public.

Residents with questions or concerns about smoke can call the Smoke Hotline at 1-800-345-1007. Updates on air quality, wildfires, and prescribed burning are also available online at the Idaho Smoke Information Blog, the Montana/Idaho Airshed Group Prescribed Burning Map, and the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Fire Information site and Facebook page .

Contacts for more information include representatives from the Idaho Department of Lands, Bureau of Land Management, Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and other partner agencies involved in smoke and fire management.