Nov. 8, 2024. Reno, Sparks, Nev. – Northern Nevada Public Health’s (NNPH) Air Quality Management Division (AQMD) has issued a Yellow Burn Code for Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, largely due to smoke in the area from a prescribed burn in Truckee, Calif.
Residents with fireplaces, woodstoves, and pellet stoves are discouraged from using them for the next 24 hours to help the air quality stay below emergency episode levels. To check the current burn code in Washoe County, visit www.OurCleanAir.com.
The Waddle Ranch Prescribed Burn started Nov. 7, 2024, near the Truckee-Tahoe Airport, with fire crews working to complete the burn today. Smoke from the burn settled into the Reno/Sparks area at about 4 a.m. today.
NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) reached “Unhealthy” (151-200 AQI) and is expected to remain at or above “Moderate” (51-100 AQI) through today. AQI is expected to be “Good” (0-50 AQI) to Moderate through the weekend.
All residents in impacted areas are encouraged to regularly monitor air quality nearest them on EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map and limit outdoor exposure when you see or smell smoke.
AQMD recommends residents to Be Smoke Smart. Protect yourself and others through the
following actions:
- People in sensitive groups (children, elderly, and those with heart or lung disease) should consider reducing any outdoor activity and stay indoors.
- Make sure to keep all windows and doors closed.
- Keep indoor air clean. Do not vacuum, light candles, fry food or smoke.
- Create a clean air room.
- Check EPA’s Fire and Smoke map for an AQI nearest you.
- Sign up for real-time Air Quality notifications on EnviroFlash.
During the wintertime, AQMD recommends residents with wood-burning devices to Know the Code by:
- Only burning dry, well-seasoned wood, pellets, and fire logs.
- Burning small, hot fires instead of large smoldering ones.
- Never burning trash, plastics, or painted, treated, or wet wood.
- Always following the burn code.
For more information on NNPH’s Air Quality Management Division, visit OurCleanAir.com.
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Please note the Washoe County Health District changed its name to Northern Nevada Public Health on Aug. 31, 2023. More information is here.
Northern Nevada Public Health 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. The District 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.