On Monday, July 21, 2025, U.S. Forest Service Wildland Fire Smoke Advisor Robert Fisher installed a new PurpleAir Sensor onsite at the Cuba Public Library as part of the community air quality response to the recent Laguna Fire event in the Coyote District of the Santa Fe National Forest.
According to the PurpleAir.com, “the PurpleAir API provides access to air quality data from PurpleAir sensors, with records dating back to 2016. It enables integration into applications for monitoring and analyzing air quality trends.” For the Cuba community and surrounding area, residents are now able to view the local Air Quality Index (AQI) online by visiting the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov. The AirNow maps are also available on mobile apps for Android and iOS.
The AirNow.gov website explains, “AirNow is a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control, and tribal, state, and local air quality agencies. Agencies all over the country send their monitoring data to AirNow for display. The U.S. Forest Service and NOAA provide fire and smoke data. See the complete list of AirNow partners.“
For area residents who are sensitive to smoke and changes in air quality, this new information source can be helpful for planning daily activities and protecting themselves and their households from the effects of poor air quality. The Air Quality Index reported by the sensor at the Cuba Library is a measurement of ground-level ozone and airborne particles – two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country, according to AirNow.gov.
Smoke exposure, in particular, can cause adverse health effects in otherwise healthy people. “Microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis,” says AirNow.gov. People with chronic heart and lung diseases can be more vulnerable to fine particles from fire events. View the Fact Sheets about reducing your smoke exposure, available in English and en Español.
More air quality health resources can be found online at https://www.airnow.gov/air-quality-and-health/.
Air Quality and Outdoor Activity Guidance for Schools
Download the AirNow app for free on the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
| AirNow App in App Store (iOS) | AirNow App in Google Play Store (Android) |
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