Wildfires burning throughout Arizona could have an impact on the air we breathe. Matt Pace with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality said that light winds in the forecast could bring smoke to Arizona communities, even as the fires lay down. 

“It’s going to rise up and then slowly spread out and disperse from around that fire, so we are expecting higher impacts in those locations near those fires, compared to what we saw last week," Pace said.  

Pace said that wildfire smoke can linger even after a fire is contained.

Fire crews expect smoke to affect Tonto Basin, Payson, Rim Country, Phoenix and other areas.

Pace says that the masks people wear for coronavirus won’t protect lungs from wildfire smoke.

The fires have forced evacuations and road closures.