Northeastern Colorado residents are warned to stay indoors in neighborhoods with thick smoke from the that appears to be intensifying again as smoke plumes are visible on satellite imagery.
The warning is especially important for people with heart disease and respiratory illnesses as well as those who are very young or elderly, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Residents should consider limiting time outdoors when moderate to heavy smoke is present and should relocate if smoke is indoors and making an individual ill. Smoke has reached unhealthy levels if visibility is less than five miles, according to the department. If there is significant blowing dust that reduces visibility to less than ten miles, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion both indoors and outdoors.
The warning is in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for areas that include Sedgwick, Phillips and eastern Logan counties as well as Julesburg, Holyoke, Crook and Fleming.
Smoke will likely head east and southeast of the fire, with the heaviest smoke congregated near the Sedgwick and Phillips county line, according to the department.