SIDNEY -- The number of recent grass fires has charred countless acres, threatened homes and communities, and personal health.

Kristin Narjes, Director of Cardiopulmonary Services at Sidney Regional Medical Center, Carla Fetzer and Gentry Carter, both Registered Respiratory Therapists at SRMC, recently talked on the impact of fires on a person's lung health.

Narjes said the biggest concern is for people who already have respiratory challenges.

"For a healthy person, obviously it's not going to impact them as bad as someone who has existing lung issues. But, I had recently read where they were talking about 'if you see the smoke obviously it's not good.' Also, in all that, there's particles that people are breathing in," Narjes said.

She said the smoke often has toxins that are not seen but impact a person's lungs. Residents are encouraged to keep HVAC and car cabin filters clean and up-to-date, and keep a current supply of allergy medications on hand.

Gentry Carter also encourages limiting time outside when air quality is believed to be poor.

"Stay indoors. There's no reason to be outdoors, unless you absolutely have to, in this quality of air," said Carter.

The National Interagency Fire Center said today "Currently, 93 large active wildfires are being managed with full suppression strategies nationwide. These fires have burned 2,343,392 acres nationwide. About 29,130 wildland firefighters and support personnel are assigned to wildfires, including 25 complex and 5 Type 1 incident management teams, 654 crews, 1,794 engines, 174 helicopters, and four Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, or MAFFS. Evacuation orders are in effect on 28 wildfires."