BOISE, Idaho (KBOI) — If you woke up Monday morning smelling smoke, you're not alone.
Smoke from the recycling plant fire on Diamond Street near the Boise Airport, which has been burning since Sunday afternoon, has found its way into covering much of the Treasure Valley.
Firefighters have been on scene at the facility since it broke out at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon. It didn't take long for it to grow rapidly, according to Battalion Chief Tom Pawek.
"It's probably [the size of] a good city block," Pawek said.
Earlier in the morning, air quality in the Treasure Valley reached an orange level, which is unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The fire, burning in wood, tree, shrubs and limbs, could smolder for days possibly.
"They're large piles, 40 or 50 feet in height," Pawek said. "They're below ground and they're in a big pit that they're all stacked into, so they're burning. Part of the problem is being able to separate the fuels from each other, spread them out enough to be able to put them out."
Smoke and flames were visible from I-84 and beyond Sunday afternoon, and smoke could be seen billowing from the recycling pit into the evening hours.
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