Wildfires

New research indicates newer homes and those constructed with central air conditioning may be better at keeping wildfire smoke out.

Higher elevations like mountain tops usually have more moisture, and fires historically hadn’t burned there very often. But that’s changing rapidly. The Dixie and Caldor fires in California are the first two wildfires ever recorded crossing the Sierra Nevada crest and burning down the other side.

President Joe Biden flew into Idaho today as the first of several stops around the West to talk wildfires, climate change and his infrastructure plan. In Boise, he visited the National Interagency Fire Center, a hub for agencies managing wildfires. He heard about the need for resources to fight and prepare for fires, and talked about bipartisan support for wildland firefighters. He’ll also be visiting California and Colorado during this visit.

The Sawtooth National Forest is proposing its first forest-wide environmental assessment for increased prescribed burning to help forest resiliency.

Two weeks ago, a plane flying nine miles northwest of McCall spotted a wildfire burning in some trees. No one knew the fire was there until the pilot called incident command and started circling the fire to get a better look.

Astronaut Megan McArthur grew up visiting national parks like Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Zion. Now she’s photographing them from 250 miles above the surface of Earth.

As Western states battle thousands of acres of wildfires that are degrading air quality across the country, President Biden on Friday told Western governors that his infrastructure plan provides needed relief.

Air quality specialists say the smoky conditions that showed up earlier than usual this year, could stick around until October for some parts of the region.

An active fire season this year is bringing smoke and fire danger to Idaho. Reporter Lindsey Schmidt looks at a few ways to help you protect your home.

Severe wildfires across the West have prompted the nation’s top fire agency to increase its preparedness level to the highest and most critical stage — the earliest the agency has done so in a decade.