Smoke from California fires triggers air quality alert

By Kailyn Brown

Friday, June 24, 2016 | 2:36 p.m.

An air quality alert has been issued through Saturday morning because of ozone pollution and smoke from wildfires burning in Southern California, Clark County officials said.

Unhealthy levels of ozone and smoke for sensitive groups are imminent or occurring, according to the county Department of Air Quality. A gray haze blanketed the valley today, obscuring views of the Strip and surrounding mountains.

Air quality officials said they would monitor conditions and post updates on the forecast page of the DAQ website if needed.

Smoke is a form of air pollution called particulate matter, which aggravates respiratory diseases, officials said.

At ground level, ozone, a gas that occurs naturally in the upper atmosphere, is a key ingredient of smog and can build up because of factors including hot weather and pollutants from sources such as cars and wildfires, officials said.

Unhealthy amounts of ground-level ozone can reduce lung function and worsen respiratory illnesses such as asthma or bronchitis. Exposure to ozone can induce coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, even in healthy people, officials said.

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue has seen an uptick today in medical calls for breathing issues, fire department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

Most of the calls have involved senior citizens and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, he said.

“The smoke is pretty thick outside,” Szymanski said. “It will affect different people differently.”

The Department of Air Quality recommended people limit outdoor activity, keep windows and doors closed and change indoor air filters.