We've been seeing air quality fluctuate because of the Floriston Fire, and as of Thursday night, most of our area is sitting at good levels.
The Health District says the air quality we see depends on fire conditions and wind.
Air quality has improved compared to yesterday, but that doesn't mean it won’t change again.
Ben McNullen, an Air Quality Specialist with Northern Nevada Public Health, told us, "Models are showing there could be more smoke this afternoon. That depends heavily on fire activity and how well they're able to fight the fire today, but depending on that, we may see smoke in the afternoon today. Overnight, you may see pockets of unhealthy air again."
They shared how small particles can continue to be in the air even after the smoke has cleared, and they will enter your bloodstream when breathing.
McNullen explains, "PM 2.5, the smaller particle, is smaller than the diameter of a human hair, so it's very small, and PM 10 is the larger of the two particles, which is about the size of the human hair.”
The Health District told us everyone should avoid being outside, but there are certain groups of people who should really limit their time outside as much as possible.
McNullen said, "Children, older adults, people with heart and lung conditions, like asthma or, you know, other heart conditions, or outside workers. They should consider reducing their time outside. Take more frequent breaks, drink lots of water. If you can limit your time outside."
And with the back-to-back wildfires we've been having throughout the area, the air quality has been impacted each time.
McNullen said, "The Dome Fire in the Yosemite area just east of Mono Lake contributed as well, but we're kind of in the middle of these two fires, these two plumes, so, as conditions change, as weather changes, you know, be prepared to see more or less smoke."
