Smoke drifting into Chaffee County from wildfires in northeastern Utah, and northern Colorado, have cast a yellow-orange haze over much of Chaffee County and Fremont County today. Air Quality advisories have been issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for much of the state.
Wildfire smoke can be equal to smoking a few packs a day. Image of Vancouver as wildfires rage across the west, by CTV News
According to the CDPHE, if visibility is less than five miles due to smoke in your neighborhood or community, then smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy. Multiple advisories were issued this morning, Sept. 7 and revised at 12:00 noon today to extend into tomorrow.
Public Health recommendations for situations of wildfire include limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. For those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly, remaining indoors or relocating away from the more extreme smoky areas is advised.
Rain and snow are expected to move into the area late Monday night which should improve the situation for southwestern Colorado on Tuesday.
In the meantime, gusty winds throughout Monday as the front moves in, along with fires burning in these areas are contributing to the haze in Central Colorado:
- Williams Fork wildfire is located in Grand County, approximately 15 miles south of Granby. Winds near the fire on Monday will be out of the west to northwest and gusty.
- The Middle Fork wildfire is located in Routt County approximately 12 miles northeast of Steamboat Springs. Gusty westerly winds are expected at the fire Monday afternoon which will send smoke downwind to locations east of the fire.
- Periods of smoke from out-of-state wildfires will continue to be transported into Colorado on Monday. This will cause hazy skies and light to moderate concentrations of smoke to be present across northern and central Colorado on Monday.
Additional information is available at:
FOR CURRENT AIR QUALITY INFORMATION AND UPDATES:
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/advisory.aspx
http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/air_quality.aspx
ABOUT THE AIR QUALITY INDEX:
http://www.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_08-09.pdf
Recent Comments