California Wildfires Create Chillingly Beautiful Sunrise In Las Vegas: Here’s Why
Smoke from intense California wildfires created hazy conditions and a chillingly stunning sunrise in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.
According to 8 News Now, there are three major fires in Southern California.
The Line Fire in San Bernardino County has burned 34,659 acres, the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino has burned 4,177 acres, and the Airport Fire in Orange County and Riverside County has burned 22,376 acres, according to media reports.
California Wildfires Cause Smoky Skies, Warning Issued For Vegas Residents
The fires and smoke have billowed into Las Vegas, making the sky hazy and the air quality poor. Clark County’s Division of Air Quality issued an air quality warning.
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The county canceled non-essential outdoor activities like lunch, physical education classes, and recess, the county said on social media. Outdoor conference athletics and activities were canceled and would be rescheduled.
The county recommends taking a few precautions — especially if you’re sensitive to air quality. It’s important to stay indoors, keep windows and doors closed, don’t exercise outdoors, and consider changing your indoor air filters.
Why Does Wildfire Smoke Create Kaleidoscope-Colored Skies?
This morning, as many Las Vegans woke up, they saw a firey red ball pierce the sky. The sky was hazy and a little more yellow than usual.
According to the New York Times, smoke particles scatter light. They are larger than air molecules and when the weather is dry, the smoke particles are high in the atmosphere.
CTV News further says that blue and green colors have shorter wavelengths than red and orange, making the “red and orange” colors more apparent because of the colors’ longer wavelengths.
The blood-orange color of the sun is a haunting side effect of the wildfires ravaging the California landscape.
There’s also another wildfire happening near Reno called the Davis Fire, according to NBC News. The fire started on Saturday and happened at the David Creek Regional Park.
According to the government’s national wildfire website, the Davis Fire has scorched 5,646 acres. As of Wednesday, firefighters have contained 31% of the fire.
For people who are in Reno and need information about evacuation notices, please click here.
