Mesa County Public Health (MCPH) lifted the wildfire smoke advisory at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, August 26. Although multiple wildfires are still burning, smoke has dispersed in the Grand Valley and air quality conditions have significantly improved.
The Pine Gulch Fire, burning north of Grand Junction, remains active and strong winds could push smoke back into the Grand Valley with very little notice. MCPH will issue an air quality alert if conditions warrant.
MCPH recommends all residents, especially those who are sensitive to wildfire smoke or other pollutants, regularly monitor current air quality conditions. If levels reach unhealthy for sensitive groups or unhealthy levels in your area or town, take steps to protect yourself including:
- Avoid Smoky Periods – Smoke often changes over the course of a day. Track conditions and plan your activities to avoid the worst periods of air quality.
- Stay Indoors – Do not go outdoors during periods of increased smoke. If you can’t see the mountains clearly, the air quality may be unhealthy.
- Reduce Activity – Reducing physical activity lowers the amount of inhaled pollutants and reduces health risks during smoke events.
- Watch for Symptoms of Excessive Smoke Exposure – Children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses are more vulnerable to smoke exposure. If you or someone in your family have symptoms related to smoke exposure such as difficulty breathing, prolonged coughing, or chest pain contact your health care provider.
- Keep Indoor Air Clean – Close all windows and doors. Swamp coolers do not offer filtration and should not be used during smoky conditions. Air conditioners may be run with the fresh air intake closed. If you are unable to keep your indoor air clean or it is too hot, consider relocating to an area with cleaner air.
Air quality conditions, health advisories, and details, including instructions about how to use visibility to determine air quality, visit the air quality page of our website.
As a reminder, a statewide burn ban is in place, and Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in Mesa County mean open burning of any kind, including agricultural burning is not allowed.