LV Valley air advisory issued due to fires’ smoke

Christina Littlefield and Ed Koch

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 | 11:29 a.m.

Winds blowing east from the Pacific Ocean brought the smoke from the California fires to the Las Vegas Valley today causing respiratory problems and severely limiting visibility.

The valley was enveloped in an ashen shroud. Views that normally stretch from one end of the valley to the other were reduced to a few blocks at best.

Clark County air quality officials issued a health advisory this morning, urging people to try to stay indoors.

The Clark County Fire Department sent a rescue team to Primm at 10:30 this morning to aid drivers complaining of respiratory problems. Ten motorists had stopped for help at Jean as of this morning, department spokesman Bob Leinbach said.

Leinbach did not know if drivers were heading toward or away from California. He recommended that valley drivers use their air conditioning systems at full blast to filter the air entering their cars and remove possible pollutants or irritants.

As of this morning, Stacey Welling of the Clark County Health District said her department had not detected any significant levels of pollutants they measure for, but that may change if the winds pick up.

People are sensitive to smoke in different ways, Welling said, and it is "not unusual to be able to smell it." Children, the elderly, asthmatics or anyone with breathing difficulties or sensitivity to smoke are being urged to stay indoors as much as possible. Those who experience any breathing difficulties, tightness of chest, coughing, eyes, nose, mouth or throat irritation should consult their doctor and remain indoors.

Only one UMC Quick Care in the valley reported that it had seen a patient complaining of smoke-related respiratory problems, but doctors expect the complaints to increase over the next couple of days.

"We'll see a few today, but over the next three to four days it will really spike," said Dr. Mike Hutchins who works at the Quick Care at 2202 W. Craig Road. "As people are exposed to it, they will deal with it at first but then over the course of a few days there will be an ongoing cycle of continuing irritation, and then we will see more people in the clinics."

Sue Branske, clinical manager for the Quick Care at 1769 Russell Road, said, "We do (expect to see cases), unless people are doing what the news tells them to do -- which is stay inside. All the nurses are prepared for breathing problems from people with chronic respiratory diseases."

Las Vegans had been spared from the smoke billowing up from the 13 Southern California fires since the first started on Oct. 25 because prevailing winds headed westward toward the ocean, weather service forecaster Mark Moede of San Diego said Tuesday night.

As a mass of cold air plunges south from Canada, however, the winds are reversing, driving smoke and ash inland to Las Vegas, he said.

"One good thing about the wind pattern is it brings cooler and more humid air into Southern California," Moede said. Those conditions could help control the fire, but he noted that "strong winds combined with wildland fires can cause all kinds of chaos."

As of this morning, the haze was not affecting visibility for planes at McCarran International Airport, spokewoman Debbie Millett said. The flight schedule indicated that all planes were arriving and departing on time, with only one cancellation from San Diego.

"If you remember when we had that fire out on Boulder Highway, that major apartment fire, it did not affect the planes," Millett said. "They just flew right through it. We are not expecting it to impact us."

In the Las Vegas Valley the winds could bring smoke and ash particles from the wildland fires, weather service meteorologist Andy Bailey said.

Windy conditions from 20 mph to 30 mph are expected with gusts over 40 mph this afternoon and could continue through Thursday.

Pat Jones who lives in the Santiago Mobile Home Park on Carey Avenue near Lamb Boulevard and is a former Los Angeles resident, said the smell of smoky air does not bother her, but she is concerned for her 5-year-old asthmatic grandson.

"The last time this happened last year (from the big fire in Arizona) Robbie had to be rushed to the University Medical Center," Jones said. "He has asthma real bad. Richard (her husband) and I have been waiting for a call to come pick him up early from kindergarten."

Mary Stanley Larsen, spokeswoman for the Clark County School District said precautions have been taken for children with sensitive health issues.

She said that while schools are on the alert regarding children with "sensitive health issues," there have been no reports of children being sent home or to hospitals because of breathing problems.

Some people working outdoors today noticed little more than hazy skies and smoky air.

"It's a little foggy out, but we're working," said Jesus Lozoya of Lozoya Enterprises, a small lawn care company that is comprised of Lozoya and two employees in one truck. "I've had no complaints from my workers, but then again, I'm usually the one that does most of the complaining.

"It has been business as usual. We're doing mostly new landscaping. Usually the only time we are affected (to the point of work stoppage) is when we are next to a construction site and they kick up dust real bad. But as I look at the skies now, it does look pretty bad."

Las Vegas residents may call the department at 455-5942 or visit the Air Quality website, accessclarkcounty.com/Air]Quality for more information.

Sun reporter

Mary Manning contributed to this story.