Wildfire Smoke from Arizona Prompts Air Quality Alert for Torrance County

The New Mexico Department of Health and the National Weather Service have issued an Air Quality Alert in effect through 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, for Torrance County, including Mountainair and surrounding areas. The alert is due to unhealthy air quality levels for sensitive groups, as wildfire smoke from the Greer Fire in eastern Arizona continues to drift across western and central New Mexico.

Overnight and into the morning hours, communities near the Sandia and Manzano Mountains may experience elevated concentrations of smoke, which can affect those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, as well as older adults, children, and pregnant individuals. The plume's eastward movement places Mountainair and the Estancia Valley at particular risk of reduced air quality and visibility.

Health Impacts and Recommendations:

• Sensitive individuals should limit intense or prolonged outdoor activity.
• If you have asthma or heart disease, monitor symptoms closely and have quick-relief medications readily available.
• Watch for shortness of breath, fast heartbeat, coughing, or unusual fatigue, and contact a healthcare provider if these symptoms arise.

Visibility and Air Quality Guidelines (5-3-1 Method):

• Under 5 miles visibility: Air is unhealthy for sensitive groups; minimize outdoor activity.
• Around 3 miles visibility: Sensitive groups should avoid all outdoor activity.
• Around 1 mile visibility: Air quality is unhealthy for everyone; all residents should remain indoors.

For real-time air quality updates, the New Mexico Department of Health recommends using the 5-3-1 Method to assess safety based on visibility. Additional smoke outlooks are available via the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program.

Update 20250513 at 2131 MDT: Added images from the EPA regarding air quality.