It was their first week back in the classroom, and students already missed three days this week. It’s all due to poor air quality, sparked by the Loyalton fire. The fire that’s destroyed five homes and six outbuildings is more than 46,000 acres and is 60 percent contained. The fire prompted the Health District to declare a Stage 1 Air Pollution Alert Thursday, meaning those with increased health risks should not be outside. There’s no estimate on when the alert will end.
The health district says unhealthy air can make it easier to catch COVID-19. They say smoke from wildfires irritates the lungs, can make you more prone to infection. Health officer Kevin Dick called the combination terrible for the community.