CDPHE Issues Air Quality Advisory for Southeastern Colorado Amid Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke settled over Las Animas and seven surrounding counties Friday afternoon, with state health officials forecasting the heaviest concentrations along the lower Arkansas River Valley and specifically naming Las Animas and Lamar as likely to see the most severe conditions.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued an air quality health advisory effective from 4 p.m. Friday, March 14 through 9 a.m. Saturday, March 15, covering Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Crowley, Otero, Bent, Prowers, and Pueblo counties. Communities listed in the advisory include Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Eads, Ordway, La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar, and Pueblo, though CDPHE noted those locations are not an exhaustive list.

"If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors," the agency said in its advisory. "This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and older adults. Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present."

Officials warned that smoke levels could shift overnight, reducing visibility and compounding health risks as the advisory extended into the early morning hours. CDPHE identified a specific benchmark residents should watch for: "If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy."

For anyone already feeling the effects inside their home, the agency offered a more urgent recommendation: "Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill."

Those considered most vulnerable to poor air quality include children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with existing heart or lung conditions. Health officials noted that prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke carries a risk of premature death, making the advisory particularly significant for Bent County residents, where Las Animas sits near the center of the forecast's worst-impact zone along the Arkansas River Valley.

CDPHE's automated email alert system allows residents to sign up for future air quality notifications. Spanish-language advisories are also available through the agency's "Avisos en Español" program for the full state of Colorado. Current air quality forecasts, the Air Quality Index, and monitoring site data can be accessed through CDPHE's Air Pollution Control Division.