The Forest Service is continuing its prescribed burns in Dog Valley west of Reno over the next two weeks.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, smoke from the burns negatively impacted air quality in the Truckee Meadows, but the worst of it should be behind us, according to Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH).
“We should expect moderate air quality throughout the region and then areas closest to the prescribed burns, including Verdi, Cold Springs, should be seeing more smoke for a short period of time. It could be unhealthy at times,“ said Brendan Schneider, Senior Air Quality Specialist, NNPH.
NNPH uses a handful of sensors to keep tabs on our air quality. Each of its six stations across Reno, Sparks, and Incline Village are equipped with CO2, ozone, and oxide sensors, as well as a sensor that measures particulates you’d find in smoke.
Northern Nevada Public Health operates six air quality monitoring stations like this one across Reno, Sparks, and Incline Village. This one is along Stewart Street in Reno, near Libby Booth Elementary School.
Schneider said the smoke sensor's been busy the last couple of days due to the prescribed burns nearby, but he says the worst is behind us.
Neighbors said they're glad fuels are burning now instead of during a wildfire, but the large amounts of smoke have taken their toll.
"They have to do it to keep the fires, you know, from taking over in the summertime,” Sandy Todaro said. “So, I'm all for it, and I don't notice any effects from it. Of course, I live far from where they're burning.”
“I saw that there were fires in the distance. and then later on in the afternoon, you know, you can really smell it,” said Cynthia Cooper.
It's been especially difficult for outdoor activities. Cooper said riding her bike through town has become difficult.
“It's pretty unpleasant to have the tickle in your throat. I also have contacts, so any kind of particles in the air, you know, it's pretty unpleasant in the eyes,” she said.
"It's just kind of hard to take deep breaths in and it feels like it kind of changes the weather, too,” Eric Fernando Aquino added.
For the latest information on air quality in our region, visit AirNow.gov. You can also use their fire map to see nearby burns.
Alin Beane takes a look at how the burns are affecting air quality.
