This photo of the Star Fire in the Eldorado and Tahoe national forests was taken Tuesday from Duncan Peak Lookout 18 miles above Foresthill. (Photo by John Hart)

There was something in the air Wednesday, and it wasn't pretty.

Thick, brown smoke wafted over the treetops and into neighborhoods in western Nevada County, prompting health officials to issue the second air advisory in a week - courtesy of the 9,000-plus-acre Star Fire, which continued to torch rugged territory in the Eldorado and Tahoe national forests.

For those of us below the smoke, the lingering effects of the fire created a volatile mix of smoke and ground-level ozone that will likely keep asthmatics as well as the very young and old indoors.

"Health risks from exposure are high because ozone infiltrates the lungs and smoke exacerbates the problem," said Gretchen Bennitt, who has spent much of the last two weeks warning residents of the evils of smoke as an air pollution officer for the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District.

Unlike last week, when the thick stuff rose into the atmosphere by midday, much of the smoke stayed close to the ground until breezes from the Sacramento Delta lifted it this afternoon.

As of late Wednesday night, the fire, which was burning in the French Meadows/Duncan Canyon area, had crept to within 15 miles west of Lake Tahoe.

A total of 66 hand crews, 65 engines, 1,784 firefighters along with 13 helicopters and bulldozers each, and five air tankers were fighting the fire, which claimed 10 injuries since it began Saturday morning, said U.S. Forest Service information officer Dwain Schrader.

One firefighter suffered injuries Wednesday when a tree fell on him, Schrader said. The fire was 12 percent contained and had cost $3.5 million to fight.

"We're not doing too good," Schrader said. "These guys are putting in 14-16 hour days. If the fire doesn't let up soon, they're likely to poop out."

While Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital's emergency wards received a steady stream of patients, hospital spokesman Gary Cooke said it wasn't the smoke that kept the hospital busy.

"We've been really busy today, but I'm not sure if that's indicative of the air quality or not," he said. "They're still coming in as usual. People should use caution, though."

Patrons at health clubs in western Nevada County said they hadn't noticed a greater number working out, either, though one said "it's best to use your own judgment" if you planned to exert yourself.

A similar air quality advisory was posted in Placer County, where the Star Fire is burning.

The advisory urged those working or spending time outdoors to avoid the use of paper mask filters, which can restrict air flow.

Last year in Butte County, Bennitt said, there were reports of people jogging outdoors with surgical masks on to avoid breathing in noxious air.

"We don't want people doing that," she said.

The health advisory was due to expire at midnight.

[NCCFD's B89 is committed to the incident]

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