Nampa, Idaho — The Nampa Fire Department conducted a practice burn exercise Wednesday afternoon, June 3, sending a large plume of black smoke into the sky visible from Interstate 84 and much of the surrounding city. The burn took place north of Kohlerlawn Cemetery, near the intersection of 8th Street North and 4th Avenue North.
The smoke was visible by 1 p.m. and prompted enough public concern that the Nampa Police Department issued a notice urging residents not to call 911 about the smoke. Police also warned drivers against heading to the scene to see it in person, noting that curious onlookers were creating real problems for the area.
“Please don’t call 911 about this giant plume of black smoke and please don’t drive back there,” the Nampa Police Department stated in a public notice, adding that congestion caused by spectators was blocking roadway access and preventing businesses in the area from operating normally.
Controlled burns are a standard training tool for fire departments, allowing crews to practice suppression techniques in a real-fire environment. While the exercise was planned and authorized, the scale of the visible smoke caught the attention of many Canyon County residents across Nampa.
Authorities asked the public to rely on official information rather than driving toward the smoke or flooding the 911 system with non-emergency calls — both of which can stretch public safety resources and disrupt normal operations. Residents with concerns about fire department activities or future training exercises can contact the City of Nampa directly for information.