Aug. 5, 2026. Reno, Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health’s (NNPH) Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) has issued an Air Quality Advisory for the Reno-Sparks area due to regional wildfires.
The advisory is in effect Aug. 5-6, 2026, because the Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range for ground-level ozone.
Sensitive groups – which include children, older adults, outdoor workers, and those with asthma or other lung diseases – should limit outdoor exposure when the AQI reaches USG (101-150 AQI) for ground-level ozone. People with asthma should follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine handy.
Everyone else should consider making outdoor activities shorter and less intense.
Unlike the ozone in our atmosphere, ground-level ozone forms when sunlight reacts to pollutants on the ground and can cause several health issues.
“During wildfire season, it’s AQMD’s responsibility to notify the public when poor air quality can impact residents,” said Francisco Vega, Division Director for AQMD. “With smoke from the Gann Fire causing increasing ozone, we are issuing an air quality advisory through tomorrow and encourage those in sensitive groups to be aware and stay safe.”
Here is more information on ozone in Washoe County, which includes information on how everyone can help reduce emissions that form ground-level ozone pollution:
- Reduce or combine vehicle trips
- Refuel gasoline vehicles in the evening
- Use gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment in the evening
- Limit engine idling
- Conserve energy
Sensitive groups are encouraged to regularly monitor AQI on EPA’s AirNow.gov. More information about the harmful effects of ground-level ozone can be found on AQMD’s website.
For more information on NNPH’s Air Quality Management Division, visit OurCleanAir.com.
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Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) is nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board and has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County through the policy-making District Board of Health. NNPH consists of five divisions: Administrative Health Services, Air Quality Management, Community and Clinical Health Services, Environmental Health Services and Epidemiology & Public Health Preparedness. More info can be found here.