Forest fire smoke chokes Northern Nevada

Wednesday, May 20, 1998 | 10:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Valleys in Northern Nevada have been blanketed in smoke from fires set in adjacent states by federal agencies, the state Environmental Protection Division says.

As a result, visibility has been greatly reduced and residents have suffered burning eyes and breathing difficulties.

Division Administrator Lou Dodgion says between April 25 and May 1, "valleys throughout Northern Nevada were inundated with smoke."

The smoke came from fires in Idaho and Oregon set by federal land management agencies. No assessment was made by the agencies on how the smoke would affect air quality in other states and no notices were given, according to Dodgion.

Dodgion sent a letter May 13 to Carole Browner, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, asking her to take steps to make sure there are no air quality standards violations and that the surrounding states and the public are notified when controlled burns are started.

During the burns in late May, including one of 10,000 in Idaho, air pollution in Carson City tripled because of the drifting smoke. The Lake Tahoe Basin was engulfed in smoke emissions from fires set by the U.S. Forest Service in the Stanislaus National Forest in California.

"At various times during those days, visibility in those areas was reduced to less than 10 miles in areas that typically enjoy vistas of greater than 100 miles," Dodgion said. "Residents complained of burning eyes, headaches and breathing difficulties during the smoke event."

Last November, health officials in Reno issued warnings to schools to curtail physical activity outdoors because of the smoke from a prescribed burn by the Forest Service near Loyalton, Calif.

Nevada air pollution control agencies were not notified, despite the significant impact on air quality and human health.

Dodgion said both the Department of Interior and the Department of Agriculture are planning substantial increases in prescribed burning. "These plans are going forth without adequate assessment and mitigation of air quality impacts."

He said the federal EPA must take a "strong role" because it's the only agency that can address regional pollution.