JACKSON, Wyo. — The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Riverton office has issued an Air Quality Alert in northwestern Wyoming due to wildfire smoke from the Fish Creek Fire, in effect until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
The Teton and Gros Ventre Mountains, the cities of Dubois, Riverton, Shoshoni and Lander, and the Wind River Mountains and Basin are experiencing limited visibility and poor air quality, according to the alert.
The Wyoming Dept. of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Division and the Wyoming Dept. of Health (WDH) collaborated on the messaging.
WDH is recommending that sensitive groups — the elderly, young children and people with respiratory problems — minimize time spent outdoors while the smoke is present.
“Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, which can cause respiratory health effects,” WDH said via the alert. “Although these people are most susceptible to health impacts, the Department of Health also advises that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality conditions.”
