Massive wildfires already bringing heavy smoke to Colorado

Almost 100 wildfires are currently burning across Western Canada, bringing heavy smoke an unhealthy air to Colorado. As of yesterday, nearly 2 million acres have already burned this season, while causing nearly 29,000 people having to be evacuated from their homes. One person was quoted on Yahoo News as saying that “This feels like a Canadian Armageddon, like a bad horror film.” Smoke from these fires has drifted as far south as Colorado, resulting in Denver being "among the worst air quality in the world" as of Friday. As a result, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment issued this alert on their website today:

Outside the Front Range/Denver Metro Area
Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

Issued for the eastern plains of Colorado
Issued at 9:00 AM MDT, Sunday, May 21, 2023

Affected Area: Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, El Paso, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Bent, Prowers, and Baca Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to, Fort Morgan, Sterling, Julesburg, Holyoke, Akron, Wray, Colorado Springs, Kiowa, Hugo, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Eads, Las Animas, Lamar, and Springfield.

Advisory in Effect: 9:00 AM MDT, Sunday, May 21, 2023 to 4:00 PM MDT, Sunday, May 21, 2023.

Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Outlook: Several large wildfires are burning in Canada, resulting in heavy smoke across several states including the eastern half of Colorado. Although gradual improvement is expected to continue across much of the advisory area, lingering health impacts will remain possible through at least Sunday afternoon due to the recent exposure to heavy smoke.

Conditions can change quickly as weather could stimulate active fires and the likelihood of new starts increases. You can keep track of air quality updates across Colorado here, or refer to the EPA's Fire and Smoke Map.



Jeff
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