Wildfires adding to air quality concerns in Colorado

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DENVER (KDVR) — Smoke from wildfires in Colorado and other states is adding to existing air quality concerns, with high ozone, high particle pollution and periodical heavy smoke expected to last through Wednesday.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Regional Air Quality Council issued an Action Day Alert due to multiple pollutants at least until 4 p.m. on Wednesday for Douglas County north to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver-Boulder area, Fort Collins and Greeley.

“Warm and stagnant weather combined with increasing amounts of both local and out-of-state wildfire smoke will result in ozone and fine particulate matter concentrations possibly reaching Unhealthy levels for air quality for both Tuesday and Wednesday,” the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website said.

As of 5 p.m., much of the Front Range was in the moderate range, while areas just north of Denver were in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range, according to AirNow.

The AQI as of 6 p.m. in Denver was 115, mostly due to ozone.

Smoke outlook

CDPHE said Coloradans can expect periods of heavy smoke in the areas near the Alexander Mountain Fire and the Stone Canyon Fire.

CDPHE said it could get worse — ozone concentrations are expected to be in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups range on Tuesday, progressing to the unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy range on Wednesday.

“Smoke will likely get heavier again overnight Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning for locations below the fire on State Highway 34 and eastward into Loveland,” the CDPHE Air Pollution Control Division smoke blog states.

Smoke from other fires in the U.S. is impacting air quality on the Front Range as well.

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, a weak cool front is expected to create surface winds out of the north, pushing smoke from the local fires further south as well as bringing in smoke from fires in upwind states, according to the CDPHE blog.

The NOAA Near-Surface Smoke model shows smoke from local fires reaching the Denver Metro area by 9 a.m. Wednesday.

On top of that, smoke from out-of-state fires will move into northern and central Colorado, worsening the air quality along the Front Range.

“This means that in addition to smoke being seen in Loveland and along Highway 34, increased particulate concentrations are expected in Fort Collins, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder, Denver, and surrounding areas,” the CDPHE blog states.

What the air quality conditions mean for daily life

CDPHE said smoky conditions have the potential to affect outdoor recreation areas and outdoor workers through Wednesday.

“We encourage everyone to remain aware and cautious in regard to heavy physical exertion, especially when outdoors, due to the heat and air quality that will affect Colorado in the coming days,” CDPHE said in the blog. “With these expectations in mind, along with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90’s and limited cloud cover, air quality concerns for health impacts due to exposure to both fine particulates (smoke) and ozone will be heightened this week.”

CDPHE said people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion in the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups range. Everyone else is advised to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion on Wednesday and take more breaks during outdoor activities.

Additional resources can be found on the CDPHE website.

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Brooke Williams

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