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The city’s Environmental Health Department issued a yellow alert Wednesday and asked people to limit their use of fireplaces through tomorrow morning.
The full statement is below:
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES A
YELLOW BURN ALERT
Issue time: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 11:00 AM
The Environmental Health Department has issued a YELLOW BURN ALERT for the Albuquerque Metropolitan area. Meteorological conditions may result in poor dispersion of smoke tonight and Thursday morning. The YELLOW BURN ALERT will be in effect for the following period:
11 AM Wednesday, December 12, 2012
through
11 AM Thursday, December 13, 2012
The YELLOW BURN ALERT reflects potential negative impact to air quality from elevated particulate pollution, due to the very dry air mass over central New Mexico. Temperatures will drop off quickly after sunset today. The nighttime inversion will form unusually fast this evening which will trap smoke from residential wood burning and any open burning near the surface. Furthermore winds may be nearly calm this evening resulting in stagnation. By Thursday afternoon, a gentle breeze will help to break up the stagnation and reduce particulate pollution levels.
For this reason, the Environmental Health Department recommends limiting the use of wood burning fireplaces and stoves unless the device is EPA approved. Alternative forms of transportation are also encouraged. Such limitations are encouraged, but not mandatory, and are not subject to enforcement action.
Those individuals who are the most at risk from elevated particulate pollution are:
- People with respiratory or cardiovascular disease;
- Children;
- Elderly people.
Precautionary Steps
- Limit physical exertion outdoors;
- Pay attention to your respiratory condition;
- Be vigilant about asthma management;
- Make sure your medications are on hand and follow your physician’s advice for your health care;
- Consider alternative activities or move the activity indoors if possible.
-- Email the reporter at dmckay@abqjournal.com. Call the reporter at 505-823-3566
