The smoky air in the Missoula and Bitterroot valleys has been declared to be unhealthy by the Missoula City-County Health Department.

Air quality specialist Ben Schmidt says the conditions have been downgraded from Sunday, and that people with respiratory problems, the elderly and the very young should stay out of the smoky air as much as possible. Schmidt says conditions are expected to improve by later in the week.

Schmidt says the smoke is primarily coming from the Mustang Complex of fires in Idaho. Those fires are less than 20% contained, and are expected to grow in size.

Air Quality specialist Ben Schmidt

 

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