Health Advisory Issued For Larimer County Due To Smoke From Galena Fire Near Horsetooth

If you have a view of the foothills, you’ve seen the massive amount of smoke coming from the area near Horsetooth Reservoir, just west of Fort Collins.Well, if you live near the foothills, you might want to avoid this beautiful weather and stay inside.

Due to the fire in the foothills near Fort Collins, the air quality in Larimer County could change frequently throughout the day. Poor air quality could cause breathing difficulties for any person, but especially for people susceptible to respiratory conditions.

In general, if you live in an area that is experiencing smoky conditions,it is recommended that you avoid outdoor physical activities. If visibility is decreased in your neighborhood to less than five miles, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Children, Elderly, Pregnant Women and People with respiratory Conditions are especially vulnerable. If you can see or smell smoke, children, elderly, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing respiratory conditions should stay inside with the windows and doors closed.

Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke because their airways are still developing and because they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. Children also are more likely to be active outdoors.

Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke, as they have higher levels of heart or lung diseases than younger people.

Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

Healthy Individuals

When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience coughing,a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes, and a runny nose. If you can see or smell smoke, you should limit outdoor physical activities and stay indoors if at all possible.

Wildfire smoke contains pollutants that can be harmful to health. Particles from smoke tend to be very small and can therefore be inhaled into the deepest recesses of the lung and may represent a greater health concern than larger particles. Even in healthy people, this can cause temporary reductions in lung function and pulmonary inflammation. Particulate matter can also affect the body’s immune system.

Sounds pretty nasty out there.
As far as the firs itself, there have been more than 50 people evacuated so far and more could be on the way. The fire has burned an estimated 800 acres so far and it is moving in an east/southeast direction, fueled by gusty winds.

The areas being affected so far are west of Horsetooth Reservoir on the south side, north of Co Rd 38e. An evacuation center has been set up at Cache la Poudre Elementary in LaPorte.

Follow more details of the fire from Larimer.org.

A second fire was reported around 1PM this afternoon (The North Overland Fire?) But Poudre Fire just tweeted that one is now under control.
Here is a video update about the fire recently put up by the Coloradoan.

How to protect yourself from smoke