Cows graze in a smoky field on the old Klauber Field south of Muller Lane at around 4 p.m. Wednesday.
In what has been a regular afternoon occurrence smoke arrived in Carson Valley starting around 1 p.m. and started building immediately.
The smoke forced the cancellation of the Chautauqua of Nikola Tesla at the Dangberg Home Ranch tonight.
A low-cost air sensor in Minden jumped from an air quality in the moderate range at 1 to hazardous by 4 p.m. with an air quality index of 360, according to airnow.gov.
Genoa was up to 379 around the same time as the wind blew smoke from the Caldor Fire over the Carson Range and it took a left to curl around the Valley.
Meanwhile, the permanent monitor in the Gardnerville Ranchos operated by the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection read on the cusp between good and moderate at 4 p.m., indicating that Douglas County’s largest community is getting a break from the worst of the smoke.
Points further south are also showing less smoke than Carson Valley and South Lake Tahoe which are both downwind from the fire burning south of Pollock Pines.
At last report the Caldor Fire has burned 197 square miles and is 11 percent contained.
Satellite mapping shows active fire in the last six hours within 9.5 miles of Echo Summit. Firefighters appear to have been able to slow the fire’s spread in that direction.
“People react differently to smoke exposure - some people are more sensitive than others,” said Air Pollution Control Officer Phillip Kiddoo of the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District
Wildfire smoke contains many different materials, gases and particles, depending on what is burning and how far away the fire is from your home. From a community health perspective, very small airborne particles (particulate pollution) are most important. Small particles are inhaled deep into the lungs where they may cause inflammation. Particle pollution also often causes local irritation of the eyes and throat.”
People with asthma, COPD or other breathing related conditions may be more susceptible to respiratory infections.
“This kind of pollution probably also increases the chance of heart problems, and people with existing heart disease or risk factors for it are the most likely to be affected,” Kiddoo said. “It is believed heart problems occur because pollution-related inflammation in the lungs can trigger effects throughout the body.”
Tips to protect yourself
If possible, limit your exposure to smoke. Below are some tips to protect your health:
• Avoid Smoky Periods. Smoke often changes over the course of a day. Track conditions and plan your activities to avoid the worst periods of air quality.
• Stay Indoors. During elevated levels of smoke do not go outdoors.
• Reduce Activity. Reducing physical activity lowers the amount of inhaled pollutants and reduces health risks during smoke events.
• Protect Sensitive Groups. Children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with chronic illnesses are more vulnerable to smoke exposure. If you or someone in your family have symptoms related to smoke exposure such as difficulty breathing, prolonged coughing, or chest pain contact your health care provider.
• Keep Indoor Air Clean. When smoke levels reach potentially unhealthy levels, it is recommended that people try to keep the indoor air quality as clean as possible, with windows and doors closed, swamp coolers off and air conditioners on recirculate, if they have that function. In hot weather, like now, that may feel like being between a rock and a hard place--balancing the possible harm from smoke against that of heat. If you are unable to keep your indoor air clean or it is too hot, consider relocating to an area with cleaner air. Some indoor air filter systems may improve indoor air quality.
• Bandannas, dust and cloth masks are not effective against the smoke.