There has been a noticeable haze looming over most of the state the past several days due to fires in both Colorado and in the West. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) released an air quality outlook on the morning of July 13 for large portions of northern and central Colorado. The advisory is in effect until 9:00 a.m. on July 14.
As a general reminder, CDPHE says that if smoke is thick or becomes thick in your area to remain indoors. Particulates that have traveled at high altitudes of the jet stream can be particularly dangerous because they are smaller and can be breathed into all parts of the lungs.
Those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly are urged to take extreme care. It is also recommended that community members consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present and possibly consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than five miles due to smoke in your neighborhood, then the smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Campfires are a mainstay of camping, but poorly managed fires are a significant risk for major wildfires. Image: Unsplash/Colter Olmstead.
Smoke from out-of-state wildfires has continued to impact Colorado on Tuesday. However, increasing showers and thunderstorms along with a shift in the upper-level winds should bring some improvement, particularly across the western half of the state. For areas not covered by the above advisory, unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion on July 13.
Affected areas include Routt, Jackson, Grand, Garfield, Eagle, Summit, Mesa, Pitkin, Lake, Delta, Montrose, and Gunnison Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Glen Eden, Clark, Steamboat Springs, Kremmling, Granby, Glenwood Springs, Eagle, Breckenridge, Grand Junction, Aspen, Leadville, Delta, Montrose and Gunnison.
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