SWEETWATER COUNTY — Due to smoke moving into Wyoming from the Ross Fork wildfire in Idaho, an air quality alert has been issued for portions of Wyoming starting immediately and ending tomorrow, September 7, at 1 p.m.
The United States National Weather Service issued the air quality alert on behalf of the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) this afternoon. The alert is for portions of central and southern Wyoming.
“Smoke from the Ross Fork Wildfire continues to be observed across much of western and central Wyoming,” the alert states. “The smoke is limiting visibilities at times.”
The WDH “recommends that the elderly, young children and individuals with respiratory problems avoid excessive physical exertion and minimize outdoor activities during this time,” the alert states. “Although these people are more susceptible to health impacts, the department of health advises that everyone should avoid prolonged exposure to poor air quality conditions.”
Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants including particulate matter and ozone which can cause respiratory health effects, according to the alert.
The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Air Quality Division, offers near real-time air quality data for Wyoming’s monitoring stations. Current air quality conditions across the state can be found here.
