Hundreds Warned They May Need to 'Relocate Temporarily'
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Hundreds of people living in the Intermountain West region might have to "relocate temporarily" because of the severity of wildfire smoke, according to an air quality alert in place on Monday morning.
Why It Matters
The air quality alert comes as wildfires across the United States and Canada have worsened air quality to dangerous levels in numerous states this summer. Most recently, residents in southern Mesa County, Colorado, have been alerted to hazardous air conditions due to heavy wildfire smoke. With the Turner Gulch fire pushing particulates into the air, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) issued a formal Air Quality Health Advisory over the weekend that remained in place on Monday morning.
The alert aims to protect vulnerable populations, including those with heart and respiratory conditions, children, and older adults, and highlights the risk of smoke—making indoor environments unsafe for some residents. Unhealthy air can worsen existing health issues and prompt recommendations for people to consider temporary relocation if required for their well-being.
Newsweek has reached out to the CDPHE by email for comment on Monday.
Smoke and haze fills the sky over US 36 due to fast moving wildfires in the area on December 30, 2021, in Broomfield, Colorado.
Smoke and haze fills the sky over US 36 due to fast moving wildfires in the area on December 30, 2021, in Broomfield, Colorado.
Marc Piscotty/Getty
What To Know
The CDPHE issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke for southern Mesa County, covering locations such as Gateway and areas along Highway 141. The advisory went into effect at 9 a.m. local time on Sunday through 9 a.m. Monday as smoke from the Turner Gulch fire intensified.
The fire ignited earlier this month and has since grown to more than 17,000 acres. As of the latest update, it is 41 percent contained. Shortly after the fire ignited, Mesa County issued a local disaster emergency declaration to secure additional resources to fight the fire as well as other wildfires burning at the time.
Forecasters warned that smoke would be particularly thick during the early morning hours, with the densest concentrations closest to the fire. Southern Mesa County residents, especially those in the advisory zone, faced heightened risks as state and federal air quality standards were expected to be exceeded during the period.
The CDPHE highlighted that current conditions placed air quality in the "Unhealthy" or the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" category for much of the advisory period, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI), which is based on hourly pollution measurements.
The AQI categorizes air pollution from "Good" (0–50) to "Hazardous" (over 300). Readings over 100 mean air is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and levels above 151 are considered unhealthy for everyone. Smoke containing fine particulates, carbon monoxide, and ozone can worsen breathing and heart problems and cause new symptoms in previously healthy people. For reference, if visibility drops below 5 miles due to smoke, health officials consider air quality unhealthy.
The advisory specifically recommended that those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, very young children, and older adults stay indoors if smoke was thick in their area. Limiting outdoor activity, especially strenuous exercise, was strongly encouraged.
What People Are Saying
A CDPHE air quality advisory: "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 older adults. 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."
What Happens Next?
Heavy smoke from the Turner Gulch fire was forecast to persist at least through the early morning hours of Monday, putting continued stress on air quality in southern Mesa County. Residents are advised to monitor local air quality updates via the Colorado Air Quality Advisory system, as conditions can change rapidly with weather patterns and fire activity.
Officials have stressed that Action Days can be declared as conditions warrant, so those in affected or nearby areas should remain prepared for further advisories. For those who experience symptoms related to poor air quality—such as coughing, shortness of breath, or chest discomfort—health authorities recommend seeking medical attention, particularly if symptoms do not resolve after moving indoors or relocating.
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