Air Quality FAQs

Air Quality Index

• What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?
  The AQI is a national system used by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to report local daily air pollution levels to the public. Monitored air pollution levels are converted to a uniform scale ranging from 0 (good) to 500 (hazardous) with the pollutant that has the highest concentration determining the AQI.
  
  
• What pollutants are being monitored and used in the AQI?
  Ozone, particulates (dust, smoke), and carbon monoxide
  
  
• Are these pollutants a problem year-round?
  No, ozone is the main pollutant of concern in the summer. Whereas, particulates are closely tracked in the winter.
  
  
• Why is the AQI used?
  The AQI used to establish burn bans. In the summer, if the AQI is 60 or higher and stagnant air conditions are expected to continue for at least 24 hours, then all outside open burning activities are banned. In the winter, if the AQI is 74 or higher and stagnant air conditions are expected to continue for at least 24 hours, a wood burn ban is initiated.
  
  
• Is the AQI updated on weekends?
  It depends. If the air quality is expected to remain poor or get worse over the weekend, DEQ will update the AQI information and post it on the AQI hotline and the DEQ web site. If you check the AQI over the weekend and Friday's information is still posted, it is OK to burn as long as the AQI is below 60 (summer) or 74 (winter).
  
  

Burn bans

• How will I know if there is an open burning or wood burning ban?
  - Listen to the weather report on the television or radio
  - Call the AQI hotline: 373-0313
  - Check DEQ's website http://www.deq.state.id.us/air/aqindex.cfm
  
  
• How do I know when the open burning or wood burning ban is over?
  Same as above
  
  
• Does Canyon County have open burning or wood burning bans?
  Unincorporated Canyon County, Nampa, Caldwell have open burning bans when the AQI reaches 60, however, Canyon County does NOT have wood burning ban ordinances currently in place.
  
  
• If the AQI is 60 or greater in the summer or 74 or greater in the winter in Canyon County but not in Ada County, does a open burning or wood burning ban apply?
  Yes, Ada and Canyon counties are in the same airshed, so the air quality problems in one county can affect the air quality in the other county.

Open burning bans

• What is considered open burning?
  Open burning is when a person burns materials (e.g. trash, yard waste) outside and allows the smoke to be directly emitted into the air without passing through a stack or chimney.
  
  
• What types of burning are permitted outside?
  The following open burning activities are permitted:
  field burning, if no other alternative exists
  - irrigation ditch or fence row burning
  - prescribed burns to control fire hazards
  - fires used to train fire-fighting personnel
  
  
• What cannot be burned outside?
  Except those activities listed above and recreational fires, the following activities are prohibited:
  - using burn barrels
  - burning leaves and other yard waste
  - burning garbage or paper
  - burning construction site or trade waste
  - burning tires
  - burning hazardous waste or pressure-treated wood

Many of these products contain toxic or hazardous chemicals (e.g. tires or pressure-treated wood) that, when burned, can be released into the air. Burning these wastes can create health and safety problems for people that may inhale the dangerous smoke.

• What are recreational fires?
  Recreational fires are outdoor fires used for pleasure, cooking, warmth, or similar purposes. They are not regulated under the open burning ban rules.
  
  
• What if I happen to see illegal burning activities or open burning during a burn ban?
  Call the Boise Fire Department at 384-3950 during regular business hours. If you observe illegal activities during the weekend or evening hours, call 377-6790.

Wood burning bans

• To whom does the wood burning ban rule apply?
  Particularly, residents of Boise City. However, Ada County, and the communities of Eagle, Garden City, Meridian, and Star have very similar rules. If you live in one of these communities, please contact your local air quality officials for more information.
  
  
• When DEQ issues a wood burning ban is it only for wood stoves?
  No, the wood burning ban rules also apply to fireplaces and solid waste incinerators. These wood burning devices produce very small particulates that can be breathed into the lungs and cause respiratory problems.
  
  However, pellet stoves, natural gas fireplaces, and natural gas pathological incinerators can be used during a wood burning ban. These devices are extremely clean burning and do not produce the pollutants that wood stoves and fireplaces produce.
  
  
• Can I burn my wood stove even if I have a certified "clean-burning" wood stove?
  No. All wood stoves are required to comply with the wood burning regulations during a burn ban.
  
  
• How do I know if my stove is certified?
  All new stoves sold since 1992 must be certified by EPA. All certified stoves have a certification tag located on the back of the stove.
  
  
• My fireplace is my only source of heat in the winter. Do I still have to comply with the wood burning ban?
  No. You can apply for an exemption. Exemptions are granted for only two reasons:it is the sole source of heat (no other operable heat source in the building), or it would be an economic hardship (your income is 50% or less of Boise City's median income as established by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). Call Boise Planning and Development Services for more information on exemptions.
  
  
• What if I see smoke coming from my neighbor's chimney when a burn ban is in place?
  Call Code Enforcement at 384-3828 and leave a message. Be sure to provide a building/house address where you see the smoke so that Code Enforcement personnel know where to go.