September 7, 2022 |
An air quality alert is in effect until 1 p.m. today in portions of Carbon and Albany Counties. Smoke from a large wildfire in Idaho that lingered over much of central and southern Wyoming yesterday triggered the alert. The hazy conditions will persist into this afternoon.
The heavy layer of haze moved into the region overnight Monday into Tuesday. The smoke combined with 90-degree temperatures made being outside uncomfortable for some.
The Wyoming Department of Health recommends the elderly, young children and individuals with respiratory problems avoid excessive outdoor physical exertion during this time. Wildfire smoke is made up of a variety of pollutants and prolonged exposure is not recommended for anyone, regardless of age or health.
Multiple wildfires are burning in the Bitterroot Range of Central Idaho, where strong winds on Sunday fanned the Ross Fork Fire, which has been burning since August 14th.
Meanwhile, conditions here in Carbon County have prompted the National Weather Service to issue a fire weather watch for Thursday in the Upper North Platte River Basin and much of southeast Wyoming.
Low humidity either side of 10 percent, combined with gusty winds prompted the advisory. Temperatures Thursday are expected to be in the upper 80s.
Carbon County Fire Warden John Rutherford told Bigfoot 99 that the fire weather watch means that the probability of ignition in fuels will be higher as will the potential for extreme fire behavior. Rutherford said the U.S. Forest Service is considering fire restrictions because of the heat, drought, low humidity and fuel conditions.
Photo courtesy WYDOT.
