Take a whiff outside in Denver right now and you might smell traces of smoke.
The smell is most detectable along east of the Platte River corridor, but poorer air quality will be seen throughout the city, according to the state public health department.
Particulate matter, microscopic pieces of smoke, dust, soot and other objects unhealthy to breath in, reached moderate levels Wednesday morning. Air quality is expected to improve starting this afternoon.
South Metro Fire Rescue said it investigated reports of smoke in the area and found no fires.
The agency said the odor could be related to controlled burning in Lake George southwest of Denver.
National forest officials are overseeing a routine prescribed burn in the Lake George area, just days after concluding operations on another one. An update from the U.S. Forest Service said an inversion is keeping the smoke from the fire low to the ground, but it will begin to rise starting later today.
Inhaling smoke from wildfires can pose several health risks, especially for those with preexisting conditions. Symptoms can include headaches, runny nose, a cough and difficulty breathing. Younger and older people tend to be most susceptible.
