Ash and smoke from wildfires in the east continues to cloud the horizon and turn Albuquerque’s normally blue sky a dull gray.
Arizona wildfires spread to western New Mexico June 11, as more than 700 square miles of brush and forest continued to burn largely uncontained in eastern Arizona. Fire officials believe an unattended campfire may have sparked the Wallow fire, the largest burning in the area.
The fire has consumed thousands of acres and is expected to cost more than $10 million in fire damage and containment fees.
The New Mexico Department of Health issued a warning to residents on Saturday to avoid the outdoors, using swamp coolers and exercising during periods when smoke is visible.
“The people we’re most concerned about are obviously those with chronic health conditions, but when air quality gets this bad it can actually have negative effects on everybody,” said Chris Minnick, a spokesman for the New Mexico Department of Health.
“Just because you can’t see the fire doesn’t mean there isn’t an effect from the smoke blowing into the state.”
The Air Quality Index in Albuquerque reflected pollution was nearly 10 times its normal level during evening hours several days last week, according to the National Weather Service.
Gov. Susana Martinez announced June 7 that the Department of Homeland Security has ordered the State Emergency Operations Center to activate to a level three operations status due to the effects of the ongoing wildfires.
Fire crews from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Farmington, Bernalillo County, Mora County and San Juan County have been deployed to Arizona to assist with firefighting efforts. Wildland Fire Strike Teams from Montana and Idaho are also assisting, according to Martinez.
Over 4,000 firefighters are currently battling the Wallow fire, which spread due to dry conditions and strong winds. As of Saturday the fire was only 5 percent contained. Nearly 10,000 people have been evacuated from mountain cities in Arizona.
“We are working hard to ensure the safety of all New Mexicans as the wildfire approaches our western border,” Martinez said. “It is important for our residents to heed the warnings of local and state officials as we handle the issue of persistent smoke in the air and prepare for the possibility of the fire moving into New Mexico.”
Albuquerque resident Maria Glenn said the fire was a serious health concern.
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“I have asthma, high blood pressure and had a heart attack last year, and I’m 68. I have to be very careful when I use my air conditioner and have hardly been outside this last week.”
Glenn said the fire has affected many of the elderly in her retirement community. She said she is on steroids and has emergency adrenaline on hand, and she has to wear a mask when she goes out.
Student Dylan Wilson said the pollution has made it difficult to complete an astronomy project he was working on.
“I’m not sure if it is affecting research at the department, but I know visibility has been very low lately,” he said. “I was working with a short range telescope at my house and couldn’t even figure out where I was looking. I had to try several nights in a row before I could actually see the set of stars I was trying to look at.”
