Air quality across the Boise Treasure Valley climbed into the very unhealthy category and is forecast to stay there through Tuesday, as smoke from wildfires burning in central and eastern Oregon pools in the valley floor. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has extended its air quality advisory and banned all outdoor burning across a wide stretch of the state.
That category matters more than the color on a map. Very unhealthy is the second-worst tier on the federal Air Quality Index, and it is the point at which health agencies stop describing risk as limited to sensitive groups. At this level, the risk of health effects is elevated for everyone breathing the air, including people with no diagnosed heart or lung condition.
