Wildfire Smoke Impacting VA: What Residents Need To Know

Smoke from Canadian wildfires is pushing air quality to unhealthy levels in Virginia and several other states this week, prompting agencies to issue alerts and urge some residents to limit time outdoors.

An air quality alert is in effect Thursday for much of Northern Virginia, including Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties, as well as the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Manassas and Manassas Park, according to the National Weather Service.

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The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality also issued a Code Orange alert on Thursday for the same region, the NWS said.

A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution
concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for
sensitive groups, according to the NWS. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly.

The effects of air pollution can be minimized by avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors, officials said.

Current air quality forecasts and alerts are available on the Virginia Department of the Environmental Quality's website.

What If I Have To Go Outside?

For most people, going outside for just a short time won't have a negative long-term impact, Dr. Sanjay Sethi, chief of the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the University at Buffalo medical school, told The Associated Press.

Wearing an N95 mask, which became common during the coronavirus pandemic, will help filter out the pollution.

“N95 is going to get rid of 90-95% of the particles,” said Jennifer Stowell, a research scientist at Boston University’s Center for Climate and Health. “If you have access to a mask that has a respirator-type attachment to it, then that’s the very best.”

If you must be outside and you experience symptoms, experts say you should head indoors or elsewhere with better air quality. Even if you are healthy, it’s good to take precautions.

“If you start wheezing, which is like this whistling sound of the chest, or if you’re feeling short of breath, that’s definitely more concerning,” Sethi said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.