Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) has issued a smoke advisory beginning Wednesday, August 5 due to smoke from the Pine Gulch Fire, approximately 20 miles north of Grand Junction. It is expected that air quality issues due to wildfire smoke will continue for an extended period as crews work to control the growing fire. MCPH will notify residents when the advisory is lifted.
Periods of moderate to heavy smoke can be expected and the highest impact areas include locations near the fire in rural northern Mesa County and southwestern Garfield County, including Hunter Canyon, Corcoran Wash, South Dry Fork, and locations west of Garfield County Road 222.
Remember, if smoke is thick in your area, stay inside – especially if you have heart disease or respiratory illness. Infants, very young children and elderly residents are also advised to stay inside if smoke becomes thick. All residents should consider limiting heavy physical outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present and consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill.
If visibility is less than five miles due to smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.
Fire safety conditions also remain a concern. Hot temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds have prompted the national weather service to issue a Red Flag Warning for much of Western Colorado beginning Thursday August 6. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions have been in place in Mesa County since June 26, meaning that open burning is not allowed.
For information on current air quality conditions, visit the air quality page on our website.