Environment

Dark smoke rises above a line of trees with mountains visible on the right side of the picture.

From air quality concerns to evacuations, wildfires impact pretty much everyone. We've rounded up some resources to make sure you're prepared as we head into Idaho's wildfire season.

Spray Now To Reduce Highway Fires This Summer In Idaho

Boise State Public Radio News | By Samantha Wright

Published March 22, 2013 at 6:00 AM MDT

A new program to spray along Interstate 84 ahead of wildfire season is aimed at reducing fires and costs.

Last year, 16 fires started along I-84 between milepost 60 and 110. Those fires burned more than 5,000 acres. The Bureau of Land Management spent more than $280,000 to fight them. That doesn’t include what other agencies spent helping to put those fires out.

To get ahead of fire season, the Idaho Transportation Department is spraying weeds and grasses along the interstate. The goal is to kill off vegetation up to eight feet away from the highway’s edge. The Department says most fires start within two to three feet from the roadside. Oregon’s Transportation Department already sprays along highways in Eastern Oregon.

ITD will spray a 64-mile stretch of highway, from Glenns Ferry to Boise starting this spring.

Spray Now To Reduce Highway Fires This Summer In Idaho

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