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Wildfire smoke has settled across Southwest Colorado, exacerbating record-high temperatures with an oppressive heat.<\/p>\n
The Pine Gulch Fire in Grand Junction, now the second-largest fire in state history at over 125,000 acres, is contributing to poor air quality in the Four Corners area.<\/p>\n
\u201cI also think we\u2019re getting smoke from California,\u201d said Matt Shethar, wildlands coordinator for the Cortez Fire Protection District.<\/p>\n
Maps that track wildfire smoke and wind movement through various agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency, show wildfires burning in New Mexico, Arizona and even California have created the haze over Southwest Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s part of living in the Western United States,\u201d Shethar said.<\/p>\n
Smoke from northern areas, including Grand Junction, is unusual for this area of the state because of wind flow patterns. But a storm front from Utah hit the smoke clouds burgeoning over Colorado, and brought ash and smoke to the Southwest.<\/p>\n
The air quality index monitor in Cortez soared from a 43 on Tuesday to about 155 Thursday morning \u2013 meaning air quality is much worse with the wildfire smoke. According to the PurpleAir monitor and data from the EPA, \u201cEveryone may experience health effects if they are exposed for 24 hours,\u201d and members of \u201csensitive groups,\u201d such as people with lung conditions, may \u201cexperience more serious health effects.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment tweeted<\/a> Wednesday that symptoms of COVID-19 and wildfire smoke exposure can overlap, such as a cough or a scratchy throat.<\/p>\n