Alert issued as smoke from California wildfires expected to remain in Las Vegas

Justin Walker
·2 min read

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Smoky skies from a trio of California wildfires are expected to remain in Las Vegas for at least the remainder of the week, as an air quality alert has been issued for the area through Friday.

The Clark County Division of Air Quality issued the smoke alert Thursday afternoon, saying that shifting weather patterns will cause more wildfire smoke to drift into Southern Nevada by Friday. Officials advised elderly people and individuals with respiratory and heart disease to stay indoors.

8 News Now forecaster Mary Jane Belleza said smoke from the southern California wildfires could creep back into the area overnight. Cooler temperatures are expected, with rain possible, albeit only slightly, next week.

MORE FIRES: ‘No perimeter growth’: Davis Fire near Reno held in check despite dire wind conditions

Clark County officials provided tips to limit exposure to the smoke:

  • Stay indoors when you see or smell smoke.

  • Keep windows and doors closed.

  • Limit outdoor exertion on days with high levels of fine particles in the air. Exercise makes you breathe heavier and increases the amount of particulates you are likely to inhale.

  • Consider changing your indoor air filters if they are dirty.

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The smoky air made headlines Wednesday as many in the Las Vegas valley woke up to the pungent smell of smoke and difficult breathing conditions.

A hillside burns during the Line Fire in Mountain Home Village, California, US, on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. A fast-growing wildfire forcing evacuations in Southern California shows the danger the state now faces, as record-smashing heat waves dry out the landscape just as the Santa Ana wind season is due to begin. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images

At last report, the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, California, southwest of Las Vegas, has burned over 37,000 acres and was 18 percent contained. The Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties in California, also southwest of Las Vegas, has charred approximately 50,000 acres and was last reported as zero percent contained. Finally, the Airport Fire in California’s Orange and Riverside counties has burned 23,140 acres and was listed as 5 percent contained.

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