Tuesday, July 1, 2008

07-01-08 -- Treasure Valley setting up for perfect heat storm

PLAN AHEAD

Forecasters say the heat will remain in the high 90s through Thursday.

Friday, Independence Day, is expected to drop to 93 degrees.

The holiday weekend also is expected to remain hot and dry with highs in the mid to high 90s.


BY DAVID KENNARD AND PATRICK ORR - local@idahostatesman.com

A forecast of scorchingly hot weather, low relative humidity and wind is a recipe for grass and brush fires in the Foothills and other parts of the parched Valley.

And when you add the purchase of (often) illegal fireworks and Fourth of July rowdiness - well, fire officials are concerned.

It's not like nature needs any help starting fires.

Look at Sunday. A record high of 105 degrees, a blazing sun and a venting propane tank led to a disastrous fire that claimed two homes in East Boise.

And fire officials are still trying to figure out what started a brush fire that burned about 3 acres near Camel's Back Park and 8th Street, though they think it was human-caused.

With the Foothills pretty much dried out, a grass or brush fire started by a careless person is the kind of problem that Boise firefighters and wildland firefighters with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service desperately want to avoid this week. So they are urging people to be careful, especially if they choose to light off fireworks this weekend.

Firefighters also want to remind people that all fireworks are banned in the Foothills.

And if you are caught with illegal fireworks, you face the possibility of a $100 ticket, $40 in court costs and having your stash confiscated. Boise fire inspectors will likely have several patrols active Friday night after the city fireworks display at Ann Morrison Park.

SUMMER HEAT

Sunday's record-setting 105 degrees comes just 20 days after snow fell over the Treasure Valley.

"More extreme weather is expected as the climate changes," said Valerie Mills, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Boise. "The so-called global warming has different changes for different places."

In Boise, that translates to hot, dry days at least through summer and fall and possibly into the winter months as well, Mills said.

The Pacific Ocean's La Nia that brought so much snow and rain to the Northwest during winter months may not be around to help us next winter.

And it will provide no relief from the heat during summer.

What we can expect is more hot days and very little rain, she said.

Escape from the heat may be difficult without going to some extreme - or running the air conditioner.

An escape to the high country is one option, but even with temperatures 10 to 15 degrees cooler than in the Treasure Valley, an 85- or 90-degree day in McCall is still very hot.

In most cases, the higher you climb, the cooler the temperatures will be. Ketchum and Stanley are forecasting highs in the mid to high 80s this week.

Temperatures along the Boise River may keep you cooler. Even a slight breeze blowing across the 55-degree water lowers the temperature along the shaded Boise Greenbelt 10 or 15 degrees.

AIR QUALITY

For many people, especially those with breathing difficulties, spending time outside won't be an option.

The rising air quality index already has pushed the Treasure Valley into the moderate category, triggering a yellow air-quality alert.

Leonard Herr, regional air quality manager with the Department of Environmental Quality, said poor air alerts could come as soon as Tuesday if the air quality index rises above 60, which would spark a ban on open burning in the Valley.

On Monday, the index was forecast for 55. If it rises above 100, which could happen as smoke from California fires moves into the area, the DEQ would issue an orange alert, one level below a red alert, or "unhealthy" category.

Last Fourth of July, the DEQ issued a red alert when smoke from fireworks thickened the air.

When the air gets that bad, it makes it difficult for everyone - not just those sensitive to poor air quality - to experience health effects.

David Kennard: 377-6436

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