Three forest fires rage simultaneously in California
Three devastating fires are raging simultaneously in California, leading to evacuations and a state of emergency.
Large wildfires are raging across the West, causing dangerous air quality in Nevada and California.
The Davis Fire between Reno and Lake Tahoe and three fires east of Los Angeles – the Line Fire, the Bridge Fire and the Airport Fire – are causing some of the worst air quality in the region.
Mesquite, Nevada, and Scenic, Arizona, which lie about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas across the state line, have some of the most troubling numbers. Mesquite, for example, had an air quality index of 225 on Wednesday night, which is considered “very unhealthy,” according to AirNow, a state air quality monitoring tool.
The index ranges from 0 to 301 and higher, with lower readings indicating cleaner air. For example, Reno’s index of 49 on Wednesday is considered good. However, Boulder City, Nevada, near the Hoover Dam, was unhealthy at 168.
Las Vegas had an air quality index between 130 and 170 on Wednesday, depending on the time of day, with both levels considered unhealthy. According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, the three fires in Southern California have made conditions worse, with some residents reporting ash falling from the sky.
Air quality conditions in the United States
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
