With wildfire activity increasing from the Southern Utah wildfires in addition to the Pius Wildfire near Payson, smoke is expected to be transported by prevailing winds over the next few days, according to Yavapai County Community Health Services Public Information Officer Jailine Villalobos Rodriguez. Lingering wildfire smoke can cause ozone levels to increase in association with ample sunlight and stagnant conditions at the surface.

Yavapai County Community Health Services recommends being aware of smoke conditions and being ready to limit or avoid outdoor activity. ADEQ monitors are showing high ozone levels for the remainder of the week. Smoke can easily enter lungs and irritate eyes.

In addition, high concentrations of airborne particles from smoke can cause persistent cough, wheezing, and physical discomfort.

People who are more sensitive to the harmful effects of smoke include those with heart or respiratory disease, young children, and elderly. Because children have smaller size lungs and breathing airways, the introduction of small particles from smoke can easily congest their airways or cause irritation and inflammation. Older people can have more difficulty clearing particles from their lungs and may have underlying lung and heart conditions.

Please follow the provided tips to protect you and your family from smoke conditions:

• Use the recycle or re-circulation mode on the air conditioner in homes or cars.
• Stay inside and keep windows and doors closed.
• Avoid or reduce outdoor physical exertion. Keep young children from playing outdoors.
• Keep airways moist by drinking lots of water. Breathing though a wet washcloth can also help relieve dryness.
• Contact your doctor or health care provider if you have symptoms such as chest pain or tightness, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue.

The public can obtain additional information by checking the air quality forecast at azdeq.gov/forecast or the air quality by town and city go at Airnow.gov.