Pima County DEQ issues wildfire smoke advisory

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality has issued an advisory due to the smoke from the Finger Rock Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The DEQ said that while its air quality monitors have not recorded elevated levels of particulate matter, the smoke from the wildfire is visible and breathable.

"If you can smell smoke, you are breathing it," the organization said in a news release.

People with heart disease and respiratory sensitivities should avoid outside exercise and stay inside as much as possible, according to the DEQ. Residents are advised to use air conditioning rather than evaporative cooling, if possible.

The Finger Rock Fire was started by a lightning strike on July 29. It died down for days before picking back up Wednesday. By 9:30 a.m. Thursday, it covered 500 acres.

The U.S. Forest Service said the fire is in an inaccessible area and is not a threat to any homes or structures. The fire is being monitored and a crew is at the ready just in case.

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U.S. Forest Service Wildfire Service