CALIFORNIA’S FIRE, OUR SMOKE

As annoyingly smoky as it is out there this week, county air quality officials say conditions aren’t particularly dangerous

Steve Marcus

Smoke from California wildfires makes for a smoky commute on the I-215 Monday afternoon in Henderson, Aug. 31, 2009.

Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The smoke in Las Vegas this week likely contains carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, nitrogen oxide, fine carbon soot, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds, plus a few trace minerals, a county official says. A more complete analysis will be able to pinpoint what actually burned — the proportion of grass, shrubs and trees — and even identify the types of trees.

It’s the fine particles in the smoke that could cause health problems, but air quality averages so far this week have been moderate by Environmental Protection Agency standards, a county official says.

Wind from a hurricane approaching Baja California could blow the smoke out of Las Vegas by Thursday. Rainfall, if it were predicted, would wash the smoke away more quickly.

Smoke from California

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Current conditions, today's forecast, neighborhood weather conditions, historical climatological information

Chance of thunderstorms for Las Vegas

Centers of Disease Control and Prevention: Wildfires Fact Sheet
Los Angeles Times: Wildfire coverage
The Salt Lake Tribune: Yes, that gunk in the air is from wildfires (9-1-2009)

In many ways, Las Vegas is the easternmost major city of Southern California. We get the largest chunk of our tourists and new residents from there. When Southern California’s economy catches a cold, Las Vegas gets pneumonia. And when Southern California burns, we choke.

For three days (and maybe a fourth today), Las Vegas has been blanketed in a London-lite fog — and just like the famous clouds of long-ago London, it’s not fog but smoke. In London, the smoke came from the burning of soft coal. For us, the smoke comes from the burning of the hills above Pasadena and Glendale.

For three days, mountains have mostly disappeared and the Strip has been obscured by a gray veil. The smoke coats the tongue and parches the throat. At night, it blots out the few stars that usually dot our night. The smoke turns the moon to a shimmering orange.

The good news about the smoke is that it does not contain large particles of soot and ash (although, large is a relative term for objects that start at 10 micrometers, or one-seventh the thickness of the average human hair). However, the bad news is the smoke is composed of small particles, which are much easier to inhale deep into your lungs and are more likely to cause health problems.

The good news about the bad news is that so far the fine particle pollution (2.5 micrometers and finer — less than one thirtieth of a human hair) is only moderate. John Koswan, an assistant planning manager with Clark County’s Air Quality and Environmental Management Division, specializes in particulate matter and said that 24-hour-average concentrations in the valley have been on the high end of “moderate” on the EPA’s air pollution scale. That means they can be dangerous to children and the elderly with health problems, but only if they’re very active outdoors.

Koswan was coughing as he said it. Allergies, he said. The smoke is making them worse.

So what exactly are we choking on in a completely non-worrying way? It’s hard to say, Koswan said. The exact makeup of the particulate matter won’t be known until the material collected by five filters around the valley is packed off to a laboratory and analyzed in “a slow and tedious process.” It will take a couple of months.

But in general terms, Koswan said, the smoke is mostly carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, water vapor, nitrogen oxide, fine carbon soot, hydrocarbons and other organic compounds, plus a few trace minerals. The finer analysis will be able to give us a better idea how much of the fire was grass, shrubs or trees — even what types of trees burned. Hardwoods and pines, for instance, give off very different smoke. And not all of the compounds released by the fire will be the same ones that arrive — they will react in the air with other molecules, including water vapor and air pollution.

(Incidentally, you can check the levels of air pollution in your neighborhood online at ccairquality.org.)

Phillip Wiker, the division’s meteorologist, said that with luck, the smoke should blow out of Las Vegas on Thursday, driven away by the winds of Hurricane Jimena as it spreads over Baja California.

But what if that doesn’t happen? we asked. What if, in contradiction to the general behavior of the Earth’s atmosphere, there was no kind of wind whatsoever to blow the smoke away? How long would this irritating, choking haze last?

Another three or four days, Wiker said. It’s a very fine suspension. It doesn’t just fall away.

Oh. Well, what if it rains?

The air would clear up right away, Wiker said.

Discussion: 13 comments so far…

By formervegas76

9/2/09 at 3:24 a.m.

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the air would clean up right away-has this guy stuck his head outside even without the fire in la. when i visit and make my trip to green valley ranch, from the parking garage the view of vegas valley is getting worse with the smog, and some people are obssesed with 2nd hand smoking.
By Rocco

9/2/09 at 6:28 a.m.

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YOUR WELCOME
By RollingPassion

9/2/09 at 8:14 a.m.

Suggest removal

Last time I looked, the casinos don't have windows.
By formervegas76

9/2/09 at 9:53 a.m.

Suggest removal

what part of parking garage don't you understand. do i know vegas better in 2 weeks a year than people that live there. has to be a republican who can't read
By oldladyplayspiano

9/2/09 at 11:13 a.m.

Suggest removal

We're getting the same type of results here, in Laughlin.

We can't see the normally clear skies; all the mountains that surround us, and the Colorado river has an almost 'muddy gray' color.

I think of friends and family who are now gone from their homes; waiting for the news they can return, and hopefully to their homes left untouched.

I admire the 24/7 efforts of the fire-fighters; I lived in Orange County for 17 years, and have driven through a few of those fires when I've driven to San Bernardino or 2 years ago, caught at Camp Pendleton when they evacuated us, and saw huge licking flames and smelled that heavy smoke that is far worse, than Las Vegas is getting right now.

It makes you have a solid appreciation for the capabilities of those who overcome those massive fires, with their tireless efforts; those who fly in the helicopters and fixed-wing planes, and drop those red-orange chemicals that help put out the fire.

I just hope that this won't take another 1 to 2 weeks, as they've predicted it might, before it's under control.

We're not really into the 'fire season' just yet, so it worries me there will be more to come.

As to it affecting Las Vegas's economy - that's been 'stinking' for months now; if anything, people might drive up to Las Vegas to get away from the smell of REAL SMOKE, and ride it out at a casino as they try to take their mind off this tragedy.

So, California's tragedy could be LV's gain.......
By morgen

9/2/09 at 12:33 p.m.

Suggest removal

Folks, this smoke is very bad. Our smoke alarm went off on Sunday in one of the rooms of the house. Unbelievable.
By gmag39

9/2/09 at 1:28 p.m.

Suggest removal

My eyes have a mist from the smoke of a distant fire.
By dipstick

9/2/09 at 2:04 p.m.

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You left me here on your way to paradise---You pulled the rug right out from under my life---I know where you goin' to, knew when you came home last night----'cause your eyes had a mist from the smoke of a distant fire.
By dipstick

9/2/09 at 3:21 p.m.

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lord, i was stunned shoulda' seen come a long time ago---- when i realized the reality gave me a roll----- if things are the same then explain why your kisses are so cold and that mist in your eyes feels like rain on the fire of my soul.
By dipstick

9/2/09 at 5:44 p.m.

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this lyin' and cryin's upsettin' and getting nowhere----- it dont stack up, so slack up and packup, i just dont care. ---- dont let the screen door hit you, on your way out----- dont you drown when your dream boat runs onto the ground.
By burrito_bandit

9/3/09 at 2:29 a.m.

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This message brought to you by the Democratic party
By Rooster

9/3/09 at 9:44 p.m.

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These pretzels are making me thirsty!