The primary air pollutant in smoke is particulate matter. When particulate matter concentrations rise to levels that may be unhealthy, you may need to take steps to reduce your exposure. There are several ways to check air pollution levels in Eagle County:
View real-time air quality data. Residents and visitors in the Eagle River Valley can find local real-time air quality readings by viewing www.fire.airnow.gov or www.purpleair.com. (To get the most accurate Purple Air readings: in the bottom left-hand corner of the map screen, select the LRAPA under "Conversion" and use the one hour average.) This sensor is a snapshot of air quality at a fixed location. Please remember that air quality can change quickly depending on your location, winds, and fire activity.
Know the Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI is a color-coded system that gives recommendations based on air pollution levels.
Green = Good: no precautions necessary. It's safe for everyone to play and work outside today.
Yellow = Moderate: there may be a risk for some particularly sensitive people, but in general it's still safe to work and play outdoors. You may see or smell smoke when the AQI is moderate.
Orange = Unhealthy for sensitive groups: Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children. At this level, smoke is beginning to impact air quality. Reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
Red = Unhealthy: Everyone is affected by air pollution. Sensitive groups should remain indoors if possible.
Purple = Very Unhealthy. Everyone should move activities indoors.
Look outside. If you can't see a landmark that's 5 miles away, smoke may have reached levels that are unhealthy. In Eagle or Gypsum, Hardscrabble Mountain is a good landmark. From downtown Vail, the iconic peaks of the Gore Range are about 8 miles away.
Feel it out. If you're exercising outdoors and it's making you feel unwell, stop the activity or reduce your intensity. If you smell smoke, there is smoke. Some people may be more sensitive to smoke in the air, even if the monitor indicates the air quality is good or moderate. Please use good judgement to determine if you should remain indoors.
Mild symptoms may include eye, nose and/or throat irritation, coughing, sore throat.
More serious symptoms include trouble breathing or tightness of the chest, which may be signs of a health emergency.
If symptoms persist or are severe, contact your primary health care provider. If you have been evacuated, medical assistance will be available at the designated shelters.
Wildfire smoke may make you more prone to lung infections, including COVID, Flu, or RSV.
If you have chronic lung disease, an N-95 respirator is recommended.
If you smell smoke and/or are beginning to experience symptoms, close windows and doors and stay indoors. However, do not close up your home tightly if it makes it dangerously warm inside. If you have any room air filtration units, use them.
Only if they are filtered, run the air conditioning, the fan feature on your home heating system (with the heat turned off) or your evaporative cooler. Keep the outdoor air intake closed and be sure the filter is clean. Filtered air typically has less smoke than the air outdoors. Running these appliances if they are not filtered can make indoor smoke worse.
Consider temporarily locating to another area as long as it is safe for you to do so. Seek out locations where air is filtered.
In smoky air reduce your physical activity level. Avoid exercise or other strenuous activities in heavy smoke.
Give extra attention to the things that help keep a person healthy at any time. Make healthy eating choices, drink plenty of fluid, get ample sleep, and exercise in clean air. To the extent that you can, avoid or mitigate stress by keeping in touch with friends and family, exercising, and using other methods of taking a break from worries.
Avoid smoking and secondhand smoke, vacuuming, candles and other sources of additional air pollution.
Commercially available dust masks may seem like a good idea, but they do virtually nothing to filter out the particles and gasses in smoke.
At night smoke may move in different directions than smoke does in the day, and can be heavy--especially if the outdoor air is still. It tends to be worst near dawn.
Close bedroom windows at night.
To prepare for nighttime smoke, consider airing out your home during the early or middle of the afternoon when smoke tends to be more diluted. Use your best judgment. If smoke is thick during the day, follow the tips above.