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• UM's biomass boiler permit on hold Play Video

  November 3, 2011 1:55 AM

  MISSOULA- A trio of environmental groups are still steaming over The University of Montana's proposed biomass boiler. The Missoula County Air Pollution Control Board heard, a second time, why the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Montana Ecosystems Defense Council and Friends of the Wild Swan want UM's permit for... more »

• Western Montana air quality "Good"...for now

  September 20, 2011 12:00 PM

  MISSOULA- Health officials report that the air quality remains "Good" in the Missoula area, but caution that may change and smoke could soon begin rolling into the area later this week. A ridge of high pressure will likely trap smoke from the 41 Complex fire in our area for... more »

• Weather change helps clear Western MT skies

  September 16, 2011 11:43 AM

  MISSOULA- Health officials say that the weather system that moved across Western Montana Thursday night and air quality is now "Good" in Missoula, Frenchtown and Lolo. While the conditions should remain "Good" to "Moderate", the 41 Complex fire near Hamilton is still actively burning, and if the fire flares... more »

• Smoke lingering in Western Montana

  September 15, 2011 12:34 PM

  MISSOULA- Health officials report that the air quality in Missoula and Frenchtown was generally "Moderate" as of Thursday morning after smoke hung around the valleys overnight. Meanwhile, the air quality in Lolo and other communities south of Missoula is also generally "Moderate", but may there may be some local... more »

• Missoula business provides relief from smoky air Play Video

  September 15, 2011 12:42 AM

  MISSOULA- Smoky air is fogging up the final days of summer and it has the potential to affect everyone. "It can cause headaches, it can cause burning of the lungs," Pulmonologist Richard Sellman, M.D. said. "I was at my son's freshman football game last week and they called it... more »

• Winds help ease Missoula air quality

  September 14, 2011 12:05 PM

  MISSOULA- The winds that have pushed across Western Montana have helped to make it a bit easier to breathe. Health officials report that the air quality in Missoula and Frenchtown was listed as "Good" Monday morning while the Lolo area and other communities south of Missoula is also seeing... more »

• Smoky haze still covering Western Montana

  September 13, 2011 12:11 PM

  MISSOULA- A smoky haze is once again visible throughout the Missoula Valley and health officials report that air quality in Missoula and Frenchtown is generally "Moderate". Air quality in Lolo and areas south of Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley may have local areas that are "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups"... more »

• Wildfires still hitting Western Montana air quality

  September 12, 2011 8:15 AM

  MISSOULA- The 41 Complex fires burning in the Bitterroot Valley near Hamilton are still spewing smoke across Western Montana. A general smoky haze was visible throughout the Missoula Valley Sunday. The air quality in Missoula and Frenchtown was "Moderate" according to health officials. But, it was worse in... more »

• A look at measuring Missoula's air quality Play Video

  September 9, 2011 4:38 PM

  MISSOULA- We've been updating you on the air quality levels on a daily basis as the wildfires keep pouring smoke across western Montana. Specialists at the Missoula-City County Health Department use a variety of ways to determine air quality rankings and meters placed throughout the area give specialists a... more »

• Missoula air quality shows some improvement

  September 9, 2011 12:55 PM

  MISSOULA- Health officials report that the air quality has improved in the Missoula Valley with the Friday morning rating coming in as "Moderate". But it's a different story in the Bitterroot Valley where air quality has been worsening in Hamilton, with the Missoula area historically getting hit by smoke... more »

• Ravalli County smoke keeping some indoors Play Video

  September 9, 2011 10:15 AM

  STEVENSVILLE- Breathing the smoke in everyday is bad enough for those with healthy lungs, but for one Bitterroot Valley woman, it's almost unbearable. It's a problem that's become an issue as wildfires keep burning in Ravalli County, pouring smoke into the area and prompting air quality warnings. "It's... more »

• Ravalli County air quality is unhealthy for all Play Video

  September 8, 2011 8:11 PM

  HAMILTON- The Ravalli County Environmental Health Department says Bitterroot Valley's air is unhealthy and everyone should avoid prolonged exertion. The 41 Complex fires along with Saddle Complex fires burning in the southern Bitterroot Valley have been sending smoke across the valley with inversion trapping much of that smoke. ... more »

• Ravalli County offering air quality updates

  September 8, 2011 2:06 PM

  HAMILTON- The 41 Complex fires continue to pout smoke across Western Montana, severely affecting air quality in the Bitterroot Valley. Low humidity and above average temperatures are likely to remain for the next several days and inversions may continue to trap smoke in the valley. Ravalli County officials... more »

• Western MT air quality is 'better than it looks'

  September 7, 2011 7:47 PM

  MISSOULA- General haziness made conditions seem worse than they really are, according to the Missoula City-County Health Department. Air quality conditions are moderate in most of Missoula. Conditions in some areas south of Missoula in the Bitterroot Valley however, are rated 'unhealthy', but the smoke from these areas is... more »

• Wildfire smoke still hitting Western Montana

  September 7, 2011 12:36 PM

  MISSOULA- Wildfires burning in Western Montana are still hurting air quality in some areas. There's been a good deal of smoke in the Lolo area and the Bitterroot Valley, with health officials reporting that on Wednesday morning conditions in Lolo and areas south of Missoula as generally being "Moderate"... more »

• Air quality in Missoula improves

  September 1, 2011 8:46 AM

  MISSOULA- The air quality in Missoula is continuing to improve thanks to a change in weather that's helping to keep smoke from the West Riverside fire near Bonner from invading the Missoula Valley. The Missoula City-County Health Department reports it's now "good" or close to that for people near... more »

• Air quality falls to unhealthy near West Riverside Fire

  August 31, 2011 3:27 PM

  MISSOULA- Our cooler weather may be helping the West Riverside Fire be less active. But it's making air quality worse for people living and working in Hellgate Canyon. The Missoula City-County Health Department says the morning air inversion didn't lift as it has been doing since the fire started,... more »

• Wildfire smoke filling Missoula Valley

  August 25, 2011 1:36 PM

  MISSOULA- Smoke from the West Riverside fire burning near Missoula is affecting the air quality in surrounding areas. The air quality in Bonner, West Riverside, Milltown, and East Missoula is "very unhealthy" to "hazardous." During hazardous conditions all children and adults should avoid or limit all outdoor exertion. But as... more »

• Conservation groups oppose UM biomass boiler Play Video

  July 19, 2011 12:33 AM

  MISSOULA- The University of Montana' s attempts to go green are getting the red light from three conservation groups. The Alliance for the Wild Rockies , Montana Ecosystem Defense Council and Friends of the Wild Swan requested an administrative review of the Missoula City-County Health Department 's approval of... more »

• Volunteers sought to monitor Glacier NP air quality

  March 2, 2011 6:26 PM

  WEST GLACIER - Glacier National Park is seeking volunteers to help monitor air quality in the park. Volunteers will work four to eight hours a day, two days a week for a minimum of four to six months. They will assist and supplement park staff by collecting and downloading... more »

• Missoula pollution alert remains in effect

  February 3, 2011 11:07 AM

  MISSOULA - A Stage I Air Pollution Alert remains in effect for the Missoula Valley as the cumulative exposure is at Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. However, the Missoula City County Health Department reports that with the weather system moving in, the Stage I Air Alert may be called off... more »

• UM researchers picked for Alaska air project Play Video

  March 12, 2010 9:08 AM

  MISSOULA - The University of Montana is going beyond the borders of the state to help address respiratory issues among Alaska Natives. Some 20,000 applied, but scientists selected just 200 projects to be funded with stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Air Toxics Under the North... more »