Wildfire Smoke, Poor Air Quality Returns To MI

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN — Smoke from wildfires burning hundreds of miles away in western Canada triggered an air quality alert for southeastern Michigan.

Air quality levels are forecasted to be in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range throughout Tuesday as north/west winds blow the dangerously loaded smoke with fine particles (PM2.5) concentrations down into the region, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials warned sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease and children and older adults should limit prolonged or heavy activity outdoors.

Exposure to air pollutants from the wildfire smoke can cause headaches, irritated eyes and sinuses, fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pains, asthma attacks, irritated throat and increased coughing, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials expect the plume of smoke to clear out of the region by Tuesday night, as the air quality alert is expected to expire just after midnight.

To help avoid making the air quality worse, officials urged Michiganders to:

• Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices
• Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible and reduce refueling your vehicle
• Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters

Wildfires have been burning out of control for months in Canada, with the highest concentrations in western and northeast Canada. Tuesday's alert is the 28th air quality alert issued by the weather service in Michigan this year due to the smoke from those wildfires.