JACKSON, Wyo. — Smoke from the Pack Trail Fire is seriously impacting air quality in Jackson Hole, with some parts of the valley experiencing “very unhealthy” and even “hazardous” levels of pollutants as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
According to AirNow.Gov’s fire and smoke map, multiple measurement sites are reporting “hazardous” air quality, measuring particulate matter (PM2.5) in the hundreds. In Kelly, for example, the air quality index (AQI) is reported to be 430. Buckrail Meteorologist Alan Smith has previously shared that as a rule of thumb, air quality ratings of less than 100 are acceptable and ratings of over 100 are unhealthy to increasing extents.
Smith notes that Tuesday’s smoke is far worse than anything recorded locally in the last few years, observing sensors throughout the valley currently reading in the 300-400 AQI range. In the past four years, the worst AQI recorded was a rating of 163 in August, 2021. That same monitor is registering a value of 313 today, Smith said. Stay tuned for more smoke info in Smith’s weekly weather update on Wednesday.
The National Weather Service’s Riverton Office (NWS) has issued an Air Quality Alert for a huge swath of the state, including Jackson. Residents are encouraged to stay inside and limit outdoor activity if possible.
A fire update by Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) on Tuesday noted that the smoky conditions were the result of the overnight inversion, which allowed smoke to collect in the valley.
On Tuesday, BTNF reported the size of the Pack Trail Fire as 60,676 acres, with 563 personnel at work and confinement at 60%. Fire staff reported in a video update that the north side of the fire saw minimal activity, and the south side of the fire continues to be the site of growth.
Tuesday’s firefighting operations will continue to focus on holding established confinement lines and getting structure protections in place. BTNF’s update said the fire has moved south into Leeds Creek but remained east of Burnt Ridge yesterday.
“On the east, if weather permits, fire crews will conduct a strategic firing operation to improve control lines and reduce dry and flammable fuels,” BTNF’s update reads. “Firefighters continue to strengthen indirect holding lines near the 540 Road. East of Highway 26, in the Pinnacles and Brooks Lake areas, crews will continue to set up sprinklers and place structure protection as needed. On the south, fire crews will continue to build an indirect line along the 553 Road.”
Track the Pack Trail Fire on InciWeb. Check on local air quality using AirNow.Gov.
