If you went outside Tuesday, July 1, in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, you likely noticed the thick, hazy air around you.

The Community Development Department Environmental Protection & Natural Resources (CDD-EPNR) issued a high pollution advisory (HPA) on Tuesday for high levels of PM10 and PM2.5. This means that the highest concentration of pollution may exceed the federal health standard.

Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion, according to the advisory. Community members are urged to avoid driving on unpaved roads, drive as little as possible, carpool, use public transportation or telecommute during the advisory.

CDD-EPNR noted an AQI (air quality index) of PM2.5 (smoke) 101 AQI and PM10 (dust) 184 AQI. PM, or particulate matter, is a generic term used to describe a complex group of air pollutants that vary in size and composition.

At 9:36 a.m. on Tuesday, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) issued a PM-10 HPA for the Phoenix Metro Area through Wednesday, July 2. PM-10 is a coarse particulate matter air contaminant that can aggravate heart and lung disease conditions.

The CDD-EPNR Air Quality team changed all the flags in the Air Quality Flag Network Program out to the color red around the Community. Red means that the air quality is unhealthy and everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. The flags are posted on flagpoles at the Senior Center, Two Waters Complex, Salt River Middle/High School, Salt River Community Center and Lehi Community Center.

Ben Davis, AQP environmental engineer, said that the air quality flag will likely be the color orange around the Community on July 2. This means that the air quality will still be unhealthy for sensitive groups that may experience health effects.

The ADEQ said that as the day heats up and the wave of dust passes, PM10 levels will decrease on July 1. However, thunderstorms from the Rim and White Mountains are expected to send winds in Phoenix’s direction again by the evening. A PM10 HPA will be issued by the ADEQ on July 2, as lingering dust may be present during the day.

An isolated shower may be possible over the next couple of days, according to the ADEQ. On July 4, elevated levels of PM2.5 will be expected from holiday-related fireworks.

EPNR is available for questions or concerns via their hotline at (480) 362-7500 or at EPNR@srpmicnsn.gov

You can keep track of the AQI in real time at the SRPMIC at https://srp.agilaire.com/airvision/.

This week, high temperatures are expected to hover around 100-105 degrees Fahrenheit, with a dip to a high of around 97 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. 

Oak Ridge Fire Update Evacuations are underway 5 to 6 miles southwest of Window Rock, Arizona in the Navajo Nation, for the Oak Ridge Fire in Apache County. The Communities of Hunters Point and Oak Springs north of mile marker 12 and west of Navajo Route 12, north to El Paso Gas Station Road, and the Klagatoh Pump Station Area are currently under a “Go” evacuation order, according to BIA Wildland Fire Management. The fire has spread to 9,887 acres and is zero percent contained.