Around TownSunday, November 8
The smoke near Coeur d'Alene comes from scheduled prescribed burns in Bottom Canyon
The Good Day Coeur d'Alene team
If you've noticed smoky skies, the air quality index is forecast to be in the 90s. The fires are scheduled prescribed burns in Bottom Canyon, east of Hayden Lake and north of Fernan Saddle, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
90sforecast air quality index in Coeur d'Alene
The Forest Service says scheduled prescribed burns are behind the smoky skies.
Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
Public Information Officer Kary Maddox said in an email that pile burning removes hazardous fuel, meaning excess vegetation. The burns also do more than cut wildfire risk.
Prescribed burns do more than cut wildfire risk
| Benefit | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Soil nutrients | Recycled |
| Invasive species | Suppressed |
| Future plant growth | Some seedlings need the heat |
Source: Bonner County Daily Bee
- Season: fall, with colder air and higher humidity
- Focus: the Wildland-Urban Interface around Kootenai County
- Larger projects: coordinated through the Montana Idaho Airshed Group
Separately, Kootenai County saw high voter turnout in Tuesday's general election, and election staff said voting equipment upgrades sped up tabulation.
Sources: Bonner County Daily Bee, Coeur d'Alene Press