Don’t Panic: Boise Airport’s Famous ‘Smoke Plume’ Is Back

It's as predictable as death, taxes and Christmas: a local Facebook post that says:

'What's with the smoke coming from the Boise airport!?'

Then the Facebook post or a Reddit thread goes absolutely crazy--with thousands of comments that are a mixed bag of 'following' or those mocking the all-too-regular question.

Yes, it's back this week. No, we aren't on fire Boise.

Here's a closer look from back in the fall at Boise's 'what's that smoke' drama that has once again returned:

Have you ever seen that black plume of smoke coming from the airport? 

It can certainly look scary from afar--and with everything going on in the world, it isn't tough to see why some may panic or wonder. Just remember, however, there's nothing to fear--it's beneficial training for our first responders.

The Boise Fire Department practices these airport fire trainings multiple times a year--particularly in the spring and in the fall.

The exercises, according to the department, are practiced annually and are an FAA requirement.

Will there be visible smoke near the airport in the coming days? Yes-- and you've been warned. Will there be more posts panicked over the smoke? Certainly, but hopefully a whole lot less with this warning.

While this fire training may be 'fun and games' with folks online--there's nothing fun about the fires that Boise saw late last summer when dozens of homes were threatened in the Boise foothills. Take a look back at the fire crews that were in action battling these flames with HUGE planes overhead.