Smoke from Arizona wildfire drifts into Eastern Iowa

As huge wildfires continue to burn hundreds of square miles of land in Arizona, Eastern Iowans may feel a few effects, including slightly heavier air and redder sunsets, a state air quality official said Wednesday.

A smoke plume from the wildfires, which began May 29, isn't visible in Iowa, where conditions are already hazy, but it may have have added a few fine particles to the air, said Sean Fitzsimmons, who leads the ambient air monitoring unit at the Department of Natural Resources.

Fitzsimmons said Eastern Iowa air registered about 30 micrograms per cubic meter of fine particles on Wednesday – just below the EPA's 24-hour health standard of 35. The fire may have added “a couple of micrograms” to the number, he said.

Additionally, as light travels through those extra particles, sunsets may appear a bit redder,  he said.