The National Weather Service in Boulder has issued an air quality alert for Rio Blanco, Eagle, Summit, Garfield, Pitkin, Gunnison, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties on Saturday, Aug. 9, due to smoke emanating from several Colorado wildfires. Wildfires are burning in the northwest near Meeker, in the southwest near Gateway and in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, according to InciWeb.Wildfire.gov.

According to the National Weather Service, smoke from large wildfires burning in Rio Blanco in particular is impacting a large area of central Colorado. The advisory is set to last from 9 a.m. Saturday until 9 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 10. Locations within the advisory zone include, but are not limited to, Meeker, Rangely, Eagle, Vail, Breckenridge, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Gunnison, Central City and Georgetown.

The Red, White & Blue Fire Protection District in a social media post Saturday advised residents and visitors to avoid calling 911 about the smoke in Summit County “unless you see flames.”

The National Weather Service advises residents to consider remaining indoors if the smoke is thick or becomes thick in their immediate area. This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young and older adults. Residents should also consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present and consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors. If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in a neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy, according to the National Weather Service.