Chris Sexton, Apache County Public Health Director (928) 337-7532
Keli Sine-Shields, Apache County Public Health Asst. Health Director (928) 333-2415 ext. 233
Kerry Pena, Apache County Public Health Emergency Preparedness (928) 333-6430

For immediate release:
Wildfire Smoke Information
The following is some general information regarding the potential health effects of air pollution from wildfire smoke.
Particulate matter is a component of smoke from wildfires.
• Particulate matter is fine particles including soot and ash that can reach deep into the lungs and may contain irritating and toxic compounds.
Some of the symptoms related to exposure to smoke from wildfires include:
• Eye, nose, mouth and/or throat irritation;
• Coughing;
• Trouble breathing;
• Tightness of the chest; and/or
• The onset of symptoms related to pre-existing respiratory ailments like asthma or emphysema.
If smoke from wildfires is affecting you and your family consider some of the following actions:
• If you smell smoke and/or are beginning to experience symptoms, consider temporarily locating to another area as long as it is safe for you to do so.
• Move indoors and stay there with doors and windows closed.
• Run the air conditioning, the fan feature on your home heating system with the heat turned off. The filtration systems on home systems can provide some benefit.
• Run room air filtration units.
• Reduce your physical activity level. Do not exercise.
There are a few population groups considered especially at risk from exposure to smoke from wildfires.
• Elderly persons;
• Young children (especially children 7-and-under);
• Individuals with pre-existing health conditions like asthma, emphysema, and cardiovascular disease; and
• Individuals with respiratory infections like colds or flu.
Pay attention to local air quality reports. Stay alert to any news coverage or health warnings related to smoke. Also find out if your community reports EPA’s Air Quality Index (AQI). The AQI, based on data from local air quality monitors, tells you about the daily air quality in your area and recommends precautions you can take to protect your health.
As smoke gets worse, the concentration of particles in the air changes, and so do the steps you should take to protect yourself.
Use visibility guides. Monitoring smoke levels from wildland fires is difficult because these fires usually occur in remote areas and the smoke impacts are transitory. Because wildland fire smoke is highly visible, it is possible to visually estimate smoke levels and estimate potential health impacts. Generally, the worse the visibility is, the worse the smoke is. Guide for using this smoke table :
1. Face away from the sun.
2. Determine the limit of your visibility range by looking for targets at known distances (miles). Visibility range is the point at which even high contrast objects totally disappear.
3. Use the visibility range values below to determine the applicable health category.
Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, it is probably not a good time for outdoor activities. And it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors.
If you are advised to stay indoors, keep your windows and doors closed. If the home has air conditioning, people can use it, but should keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean. No one should use an evaporative cooler when air quality is poor. Do not add to indoor air pollution. Don’t use anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves, or even candles. Don’t vacuum. That stirs up particles already inside your home. Don’t smoke. That puts even more pollution in your lungs, and in the lungs of people around you.