LAS CRUCES — The spectacular sunsets and lingering haze over the mountains this week are the vestiges of smoke from wildfires throughout the state, environment officials said.
Smoke travels like water, running along mountain ridges and into valleys and drainages, they said.
Though Las Cruces, Silver City and Deming are each more than an hour away from the closest fire, the Silver Fire now heading toward Kingston, smoke could still affect the region as wind carries it throughout the atmosphere.
"Smoke can go a long way," said Rita Bates, who oversees modeling and planning in the state Air Quality Bureau. "Even though (a fire) is far away from you, that doesn't mean you won't be affected by it."
Hillsboro and Mimbres Valley communities south of San Lorenzo are the areas most likely to be affected by smoke from the Silver Fire, Bates said.
Potentially unhealthy conditions, when visibility is from 1.5 miles to 2.75 miles, could occur in those areas, according to the June 13 and June 14 smoke outlook on the Air Quality Bureau website.
If there is that limited visibility, people with heart or lung conditions, young children, pregnant women and adults over age 65 should avoid all outdoor activity, Bates said. Everyone else should minimize time spent outdoors.
Fine particulates from smoke can travel deep into the lungs and cause or exacerbate lung and heart problems, Bates said.
The rest of southern New Mexico isn't in the clear, however.
Smoke from the Silver Fire will likely hover near the ground in Las Cruces, Deming and Silver City this evening, with the highest concentration near Hillsboro, according to the National Weather Service. Higher in the atmosphere, smoke will even reach down to El Paso.
Though air quality is currently rated "good" in the region, according to the state Environment Department, traces of smoke still flow away from the fire become trapped in local valleys.
"Even though there's not the main plume of smoke, it travels over time and settles in areas when there's no winds to blow it out," state climatologist Dave DuBois said.
Some individuals may be more sensitive to any presence of smoke in the area, Bates said.
"People just need to listen to their own bodies," she said.
Las Crucen Ed Tsyitee Jr. noticed a smoky haze the other night when he went for a walk.
"Within minutes, my eyes were burning and it was getting somewhat difficult to breathe," he said.
Smoke tends to filter down toward ground level during the evening, after hot air keeps particles higher in the atmosphere during the day.
"You don't really see the smoke at night time, so you let your guard down," DuBois said.
The vibrant sunsets this week are also largely due to wildfires burning throughout the state, DuBois said. The smoke and dust filtering down into the Mesilla Valley enhances the colors of the sunsets, he said.
"Wildfire smoke filters out other colors and gives you the reds and pinks," he said.
Also notable during fire season is the increased presence of ozone, DuBois said.
Ozone is helpful when it is found in the ozone layer of the Earth's atmosphere, but, at ground level, it can be harmful including triggering asthma attacks, DuBois said.
Ozone is usually caused by car emissions and other urban pollution, but wildfires can also emit the chemical compound, DuBois said.
Even with the fires, the ozone levels found here are nowhere near those of big cities like Los Angeles or Houston, DuBois said.
"In general, the air is pretty clean" here, he said. "We're not getting the worst of it."
The air may become cleaner this weekend as higher forecasted humidity may keep fires from growing, officials said.
"As soon as you add a little bit of humidity, the fire energy tends to be less," DuBois said.
Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 575-541-5462. Follow her on Twitter @l_m_anderson
•Pick a landmark about 5 miles away. If you can't see it, air quality is potentially unhealthy for sensitive individuals. Those who are pregnant, elderly, young children or have heart or respiratory problems should limit outdoor activity.
•Swamp coolers, especially older models, don't always filter outside air and can pull smoke indoors.
•View state resources on fire, smoke and public health.
•Check out state Air Quality Bureau resources.