Air quality worsens around Sockeye Fire near Willow

Although air quality remains good in Anchorage, about 50 miles south of the still-growing Sockeye Fire, the smoke is thickening near the community of Houston, according to Matanska-Susitna Borough officials. Winds from the north continue to push the smoke across the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys and throughout Southcentral Alaska.

Officially, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's air quality hotline listed the local air as good on Monday morning. An operator at the borough said that the local air quality control specialist was too busy at the fire command center to update the local air quality information. The borough is asking people to "please take measures to not risk yourself."

Anchorage air quality officials said the local air quality is good, though residents woke up to a blue haze hanging in the mountains and the faint smell of wood smoke.

"It gets smoky and dense in the morning, then improves in the afternoon," Anchorage air quality Project Manager Anne Schlapia said.

Schlapia said any change in the wind pattern could quickly affect Anchorage's air quality and said her agency is constantly monitoring local air for smoke, and other particulates.

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for Anchorage and the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys. It is predicting more winds out of the north that could bring in more smoke from the fire through Tuesday night.

The DEC said that it is increasing its air monitoring in the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys.

"The smoke appears to be in the Willow and Big Lake areas," DEC meteorologist Michael Gravier said. "We are monitoring this situation closely, and we will add monitors in affected areas as needed. We'll be updating our air quality advisory at 4 p.m. today, Monday."