{"id":91854,"date":"2026-07-09T11:06:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:06:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=91854"},"modified":"2026-07-09T11:06:32","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T17:06:32","slug":"southern-colorado-wildfire-smoke-hospitals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/southern-colorado-wildfire-smoke-hospitals\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Colorado wildfire prompts dozens of people to seek hospital care for smoke-related health challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"Aspen
Smoke from the Aspen Acres wildfire south of Pueblo can cause people nearby to have a sore throat, itchy eyes, a runny nose and difficulty breathing. Dozens of people have gone to the hospital in Pueblo since the fire started June 29. Photo by Todd Seip, UCHealth.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dozens of people in the Pueblo area have sought help from medical experts as dangerous smoke and ash from one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history is blanketing southern Colorado.<\/p>\n

Since the Aspen Acres fire<\/a> began on June 29, doctors at UCHealth\u2019s hospitals in Pueblo have treated 67 patients for medical issues related to the fire as of July 9.<\/p>\n

Other people who are struggling with breathing issues, itchy eyes or sore throats have visited urgent care clinics or reached out to their primary care providers. Still others may be dealing with symptoms on their own as wildfire smoke from the Aspen Acres blaze has settled over Pueblo and has spread along Colorado\u2019s Front Range.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, doctors are fielding calls and messages from patients displaced by the fire who need to reschedule or cancel appointments. Others need help with refills for medications they left behind when they had to evacuate their homes.<\/p>\n

And everyone living with wildfire smoke has had to change their daily routines, such as when to run errands and where to exercise.<\/p>\n

\u201cFire season in Colorado is always something we have to deal with,\u201d said Dr. Joshiah Gordon,<\/a> a pulmonary and critical care doctor at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But this summer\u2019s conditions have wreaked havoc on people with pulmonary illnesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving in Colorado, living at altitude and living with chronic lung disease, it\u2019s tough,\u201d Gordon said. \u201cWith no wildfires, most of these patients would be doing great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Colorado’s summer wildfire season means no break for respiratory ailments<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So far, medical providers have treated 50 patients at UCHealth Parkview Medical Center and another 17 at UCHealth Parkview Pueblo West Hospital<\/a>. Fifteen patients were hospitalized in Pueblo, and one was transferred to UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central<\/a> in Colorado Springs. Most went to the hospital for respiratory issues related to the smoke and poor air quality. Seven patients have been discharged.<\/p>\n

\n

Learn how to stay safe when wildfires cause unhealthy air quality.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Gordon and Ramos offer the following suggestions for dealing with wildfire smoke:<\/p>\n