Haze lies low in the valley like a blanket of smog that covers the sun. Nothing is visible: not the mountains, the forests, the cars, or the animals. Just the dull, blurry outline of this beautiful world being choked by smoky air from raging fires.

Wildfires are causing poor air quality, especially in the Roaring Fork Valley. As global warming intensifies, more wildfires rage each summer. Due to the deep, narrow geographical structure of the Roaring Fork Valley and temperature inversions, wildfire smoke stays for weeks at a time, even when new smoke is not blowing in. Wildfire smoke contains small, harmful particles called pm 2.5, which are particles less than 2.5 micrometers wide. These particles are dangerous because they are small enough to get lodged deep into the lungs and sometimes into the body’s bloodstream. Wildfire smoke is especially dangerous to adolescents, teens, and athletes because their respiratory systems are still developing and their breathing rate is faster, which means that they cause more damage to their lungs.

Robin Strecker, the Aspen School District nurse, has worked with the school for four years. In that time, she has never seen smoke as bad as this summer. Strecker noted that this year was the first time that the district had to seriously plan around wildfire smoke.

“We were actively working with our outdoor ed coordinator about alternative plans if the air quality was so bad for our high schoolers going into the back country,” Strecker explained.

To guide decisions, the district relies on state health recommendations (Department of Education and the Department of Public Health) and the Air Quality Flag Program, which uses colors to show when air is safe or unsafe to spend time outside. Air quality is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI).

“Orange means air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children and athletes, and you shouldn’t spend excessive time outdoors,” Strecker explained. “Red means air quality is unhealthy for everyone, and at that point, you’re not really supposed to be outside at all.”

Lochlan Marsh, a junior at AHS and a dedicated member of the cross country team, has asthma. He has experienced firsthand how wildfire smoke affects his asthma while running.

“If we run in the smoke, I really feel it in my lungs, and it makes it much harder for me to breathe. I have to stop and walk a lot more than normal.”

When the air does reach those dangerous levels, Strecker encourages students to take extra precautions for their safety. While the smoke has cleared for now, Strecker warns that worsening wildfire seasons will keep calling for updated school and district protocol.

“If students do have to go outside when the air is bad… wearing KN95 masks can help protect you… by filtering out heavy particles,” Strecker said. “We keep those masks available at school in case anyone needs them.”

When asked what we can do in the face of this threat, Strecker says that while fires are out of our hands, we can try to limit the impacts on our bodies.

“Protecting people from these risks…[requires] us to be educated and proactive.”