Wildfires affecting air quality

Tortolita and Big Horn wildfires are polluting the air near Tucson.

CONTAINING BOTH THE TORTOLITAAND BIGHORN FIRES - CONCERNSOVER AIR QUALITY ARE NOW ALSOCOMING INTO THE PICTURE.

THEPIMA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OFENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ISSUEDAN AIR POLLUTION HEALTH WATCHYESTERDAY AFTER CONCERNS OVERSMOKE FROM THE TWO FIRESPOTENTIALLY MAKING ITS WAY TOTHE ORO VALLEY, CATALINA ANDNORTH TUCSON AREA.

WE SPOKE TOTHE DIRECTOR FOR THE P-D-E-QWHO TOLD US THE DEPARTMENT WASISSUING THIS HEALTH WATCHBECAUSE OF EXPECTED INCREASEDWIND THROUGHOUT THE DAYYESTERDAY AS WELL AS ANEXPECTED WIND DIRECTION CHANGETHAT COULD BRING THAT SMOKEFURTHER INTO TOWN.

SHE SAIDTHAT HEALTH WATCH WAS ISSUEDTO KEEP AT- RISK GROUPS SAFEFROM UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY.WHEN THOSE PARTICLES GET INTOYOUR RESPIRATORY SYSTEM THEYCAN CAUSE IRRITATION IN YOURLUNGS, SO IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA,IF YOU'RE OLDER OR IF YOU'REVERY YOUNG, THAT CAN LEAD TOSOME RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS.NELSON SAID IF YOU'RE IN ONEOF THESE VULNERABLE GROUPS,SHE RECOMMENDS LIMITINGOUTDOOR EXPOSURE.

IF YOU'DLIKE TO STAY UP TO DATE ONPOLLUTION LEVELS - UP-TO-THE-HOUR INFORMATION IS AVAILABLEON THE COUNTY WEBSITE WHICHYOU CAN FIND A LINK TO ON KGUNNINE DOT COM.

IN ORO VALLEY -VERONICA ACOSTA KGUN NINE ONYOUR SIDE