Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) has issued an Air Quality Advisory through Monday, September 7 at 9 p.m. Hazy conditions are expected due to smoke from surrounding areas.
Dry, windy conditions are expected with a Red Flag warning in effect through 9 p.m. This critical fire weather, combined with poor smoke dispersal and the fine particulates forecast in the moderate category prompted the advisory.
When air quality is in the moderate (yellow) range there is an increased risk for people in sensitive groups, including people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and young children. If visibility is less than five miles due to smoke, the smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Residents are advised to take the following precautions to stay healthy:
- Avoid heavy outdoor exertion such as running or other forms of exercise.
- Keep your indoor air clean and stay inside as much as possible.
- Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. You want to keep your indoor air as clean as possible.
- Do not vacuum. It stirs up dust in your home.
- Do not smoke tobacco in your home.
- Do not burn candles, fireplaces or gas stoves.
- Contact your health care provider if you’re concerned about your health.
Open burning of any kind, including agricultural burns, is not allowed when a Red Flag or other weather warnings or alerts are in place. Mesa County remains under Stage 2 Fire restrictions which prohibit all types of burning, including agricultural burns without a special permit from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office.
For more information on air quality conditions and alerts, including real-time readings through a community-sourced monitoring system called Purple Air, visit our air quality page.