With weather conditions ripe for controlled burns, air quality could well be a concern across the area and much of Kansas.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has issued an air quality health advisory for the southern Flint Hills as far west as Liberal for Wednesday and into Thursday. KDHE says smoke from Tuesday’s fires, coupled with anticipated fire activity Wednesday and Thursday, will push the federal Air Quality Index into the moderate or unhealthy for sensitive groups categories. There could also be localized cases where the AQI gets to the unhealthy category.
KDHE does not list counties in these advisories, in part because it does not know how many controlled burns will take place.
Controlled burns are beneficial to help preserve the tallgrass prairie, control invasive plant species and offer better forage for cattle and other livestock. However, the burns also send up large amounts of substances that can create ozone and lead to health issues ranging from burning eyes to bronchitis.
You can track the AQI by going online to www.airnow.gov through the Environmental Protection Agency. You can also download the Airnow app.
