Department of
Environmental Quality

Air quality must be considered before burning can take place. Burning is allowed if pollutant levels are within an acceptable range and smoke is expected to disperse with minimal impact to public health and safety, with special consideration for institutions with sensitive populations (e.g., hospitals, schools). Growers are notified on the proposed burn date whether burning will be allowed that day.

Daily Burn Decisions

DEQ smoke management analysts make daily preliminary and final burn decisions for each Idaho county. These decisions are based on a review of current weather observations and forecasted meteorology, air quality conditions, fuel and soil moisture levels, other sources of smoke emissions, and weather forecasts and burn recommendations provided by a meteorologist. Access final and preliminary burn decisions for Idaho counties outside of the Coeur d’Alene and Nez Perce Reservation boundaries here.

Burn Approvals and Requests

Burn approval decisions are based on air quality conditions; proximity to towns, schools, roads, hospitals, canyon rims, etc.; the order of burn requests received from applicants; and other relevant factors. See a map of current burn approvals and requests in Idaho here.

Spot and Baled Agricultural Residue Burn Decisions

A spot burn is open burning of weed patches, spots of heavy residue, equipment plugs and dumps, pivot corners of fields, and pastures. Baled agricultural residue burning is used to dispose of broken, mildewed, diseased, or otherwise pest-ridden bales still in a field where they were generated.

The open burning of spot and baled agricultural residue requires a permit issued by DEQ. It is valid for the calendar year and requires a $20 nonrefundable fee. The permit allows the open burning of no more than 1-acre spots or the equivalent of piled or baled agricultural residue per day (2 tons of piled or baled agricultural residue is assumed to equal 1 acre). Access daily burn decisions for spot and bale burning here.

Propane Flaming Burn Decisions

Propane flaming is the use of flame-generating equipment to briefly apply flame and/or heat to the topsoil of a cultivated field of pre-emerged or plowed-under crop residue with less than 550 pounds of burnable, non-green residue per acre in order to control diseases, insects, pests, and weed emergence. Propane flaming does not require a permit; however, the burning must be conducted on a DEQ designated burn day, which may include weekends and holidays, and within the burn window identified by DEQ. Access daily burn decisions for propane flaming burn decisions here.