NNPH issues yellow burn code Moderate air quality forecasted due to nearby prescribed burn
Northern Nevada Public Health’s (NNPH) Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) has issued a Yellow Burn Code for Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, due to smoke in the area from a prescribed burn in Truckee, California.
Residents with fireplaces, woodstoves, and pellet stoves are discouraged from using them for the next 24 hours to help maintain air quality below emergency episode levels. To check the current burn code in Washoe County, visit www.OurCleanAir.com.
The Waddle Ranch Prescribed Burn began on Nov. 7, 2024, near the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, with fire crews working to complete the burn today. Smoke from the burn settled into the Reno/Sparks area around 4 a.m.
The NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) reached “Unhealthy” (151-200 AQI) and is expected to remain at or above “Moderate” (51-100 AQI) through today. AQI is projected to be “Good” (0-50 AQI) to “Moderate” over the weekend.
All residents in impacted areas are encouraged to monitor air quality on the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map and limit outdoor exposure when smoke is visible or detectable by smell.
AQMD recommends the following actions to “Be Smoke Smart”:
- People in sensitive groups (children, elderly individuals, and those with heart or lung disease) should consider reducing outdoor activity and staying indoors.
- Keep windows and doors closed.
- Maintain clean indoor air by avoiding activities like vacuuming, lighting candles, frying food, or smoking.
- Create a clean air room.
- Check the EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map for local AQI.
- Sign up for real-time air quality notifications on EnviroFlash.
During winter, AQMD urges residents with wood-burning devices to “Know the Code” by:
- Only burning dry, well-seasoned wood, pellets, or fire logs.
- Burning small, hot fires instead of large, smoldering ones.
- Never burning trash, plastics, or painted, treated, or wet wood.
- Always following the burn code.
Source: NNPH
