After visiting central Oregon and encountering smoke from the  many fires (see blog entry about John Day) we spent a few weeks just hanging out in central Idaho.

We didn’t expect to see more fires!  But, we did!  There were fires in all directions, and the smoke was so bad that most days we didn’t really venture out except for necessary errands.  There were several new fires while we were there and one day the air quality was the worst that can be measured!

Most days we couldn’t see the fires, just the smoke turning the sky brown and orange.  Then a fire started closer to us and we could see the flames for a couple of days. Yipes!

Luckily we were right on the Payette River next to the highway and within the town borders so we knew if the fires got much closer the firefighters would battle the fire!  Several of the fires were nowhere near towns or even many houses and they were allowed to burn while the firefighters, including some planes and helicopters, focused on the fires that threatened nearby towns and structures.

Here are some pictures: