JACKSON, Wyo. — The National Weather Service’s (NWS) Riverton office has issued an Air Quality Alert in northwestern Wyoming as the Fish Creek and Pack Trail fires continue to create smoky conditions.
The alert will be in effect until 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1. NWS forecasts that Jackson, Dubois, Buffalo, Pinedale, Big Piney and the Teton and Gros Ventre ranges could see limited visibility due to smoke. NWS also notes that central Wyoming is also seeing a lot of wildfire smoke from the Elk Fire in the Bighorn Mountains. Read the full warning here.
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 — elderly people, 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.”
Those interested in tracking local air quality can do so at AirNow.Gov.
