LARIMER COUNTY, Colo — Despite diminishing air quality numbers, the Larimer County Fair is still scheduled to start on Friday, Aug. 2. Fair coordinators said the annual brings more than 100,000 people each year.
Louise Romero is the Larimer County fair manager.
“Changes can happen overnight that can totally change the situation that we're in,” Romero said. “Right now, we're still moving forward like it's a full fair.”
The Ranch Events Complex, where the fair is held, is about 20 miles away from the Alexander Mountain Fire. As that fire continues to grow, so do the concerns for the air quality across the county, yet the fair is still scheduled.
“Me personally it's very stressful,” Romero admitted. “I have a husband that has a lung condition, so we are monitoring the AQI (Air Quality Index) so that he is safe.”
The current air quality index in the Loveland area is around 80. It’s considered a moderate level.
“The young and the old, those with chronic health disease, this is going to be a tough day for them,” Doctor David Beuther, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health, said.
He told 9NEWS that while the current air quality shouldn’t be too bad for healthy people, they should still limit their time outside.
“Spending hours outdoors can cause irritating symptoms like itchy eyes, scratch throat, headaches, sometimes a cough, so if you're experiencing those symptoms that may be a sign to back off a little bit,” Beuther added.
Romero knows the air quality is a big concern for a lot of people, and choosing to keep the fair scheduled was a tough call. She said the fair coordinators are working with the Larimer County Public Health Department, Sheriff’s Office and even the County Commissioners have a say in the decision.
“There's a lot of smoke in the air," Romero said. "We're monitoring and making sure we're still having a fair that's going to be healthy for people to still attend. It is hour-by-hour, day-by-day, and anything is possible at the moment.”
The Larimer County Public Health Department said the current air quality index in the area is currently around 80. Tom Gonzales, the Public Health Director said if the index rises to 150 there will be some major concern. He said that’s when the air can impact even the healthiest people.
Gonzales said they are working with the Colorado Department of Public Health to try to install two air monitors on the fairgrounds by Friday to keep a closer eye on the air quality.