Smoke Advisory from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

 At 4pm today, October 12th, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment issued a smoke advisory for areas near the Decker Fire.  Please see below.

 
 Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

Issued for portions of central and southern Colorado
Issued at 4:00 PM MDT, Saturday, October 12, 2019

Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Affected Area: southeastern Chaffee and northwestern Fremont Counties, including, but not limited to the communities of Salida, Cleora, Wellsville, Howard, Coaldale, and Cotopaxi.

Advisory in Effect: 4:00 PM MDT, Saturday, October 12, 2019 to 4:00 PM MDT, Sunday, October 13, 2019. .

Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present. Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

Outlook: Prolonged periods of moderate to heavy smoke are expected Saturday into Sunday afternoon from the Decker wildfire, located in far northeast Saguache County approximately 8 miles south of Poncha Springs. Although gusty winds may disperse smoke concentrations across the advisory area Saturday afternoon, smoke is expected to increase Sunday afternoon during the daytime hours. Gusty winds will increase fire activity on both days and overnight smoke will settle in low laying areas east of the fire. Smoke impacts are expected to continue through at least Sunday afternoon. Smoke will generally move to the east of the fire into southeastern Chaffee and northeastern Fremont county line, and could bring periods of heavy smoke to Poncha Springs, Smeltertown, Salida, Cleora, Wellsville, Howard, Coaldale, and Cotopaxi.