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Arizona Wildfire Haze Prompts Health Warnings in Colorado

Smoke from the Arizona wildfires caused low visibility in the Denver metro area Monday.
Photo courtesty of the Associated Press
Smoke from the Arizona wildfires caused low visibility in the Denver metro area Monday.

As crews continue to battle large wildfires in Arizona, heavy smoke is blanketing much of the Rocky Mountain region prompting health officials to issue numerous warnings.

Smoke Health Advisories are effect in much of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.  Local and state health department officials are warning people with respiratory problems to stay indoors.

The Colorado Front Range is more than 600 miles away from Arizona’s Wallow Fire. But the heavy smoke here has blocked views of the mountains for several days, and created low visibility for drivers in the region. Officials say some people exercising outdoors could experience nasal irritations, though the main warnings in effect are for people with health problems already. 

Smoke from the Arizona fires has also been reported as far away as Nebraska and Iowa.

Kirk Siegler reports for NPR, based out of NPR West in California.
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