Smoke from wildfires near Austin causes breathing problems in Fort Worth area: MedStar
Smoke from wildfires to the south of Dallas-Fort Worth caused breathing problems for some people in Tarrant County over the weekend, according to MedStar.
Over the past three days, MedStar crews in the Fort Worth area responded to 87 calls from people who were having trouble breathing, according to MedStar. Of those, 67 were taken to the hospital.
MedStar recommended that until the smoke clears, “it may be best for people with respiratory issues to stay indoors, if possible!”
Three wildfires covered about 17,250 acres in Coryell County, which is about 30 miles north of Austin and about 120 miles from DFW. The fires, known as the Crittenburg Complex, stretch from about 10 miles south of Gatesville through Fort Hood to just north of Killeen. Smoke from the fires created a brownish haze over the area Sunday. As of Sunday night, the fires were 0% contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Tuesday evening and Wednesday’s forecast may help with the haze. Tuesday night is expected to bring rain and a chance of storms, and a cold front is expected to move into North Texas on Wednesday.
The Respiratory Health Association recommends that people in sensitive groups — children, the elderly, people who work or spend time outdoors and those living with lung disease — take the following precautions in hazy, smoky conditions:
- Limiting outdoor activity.
- Staying cool and comfortable – preferably in an air-conditioned area.
- Limiting strenuous activity.
- Staying hydrated.
This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 7:54 AM with the headline "Smoke from wildfires near Austin causes breathing problems in Fort Worth area: MedStar."
