70 active wildfires cause US air quality concerns

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) - A blanket of grey haze covers the Grand Valley and shields the mountain view.

Several Western states are under an air quality alert due to wildfires. The National Interagency Fire Center says about 70 wildfires are burning across the country. Those fires have burned over a million acres so far.

“Smoke will be carried east from numerous wildfires burning across Colorado and Utah today,” the National Weather Service said. “Conditions in Grand Junction will improve today in comparison to yesterday as smoke from the Trail Mountain Fire moves north of I-70. Areas in the Uinta Basin may be impacted by smoke from this fire on both Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon.”

Different parts of Western Colorado will have varying changes with the air quality. “The cycle of dense smoke in the morning in Durango will continue, with afternoon winds breaking up the smoke and carrying it eastward,” the NWS said.

There are nine states that have reported large active wildfires currently. There are 20 in Oregon and 12 in California, leading to evacuation orders in those areas. Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming are all under air quality alerts.