Air Quality Alert

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17, for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke. Pollutants within those areas are expected to range from Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.

The Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in southwest Michigan...

Berrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale.

Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across the region. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will continue through Friday.

It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes.

Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as:

* outdoor burning,

* use of residential wood burning devices.

Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site: Michigan.gov/MiAir

For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA's Air Now site: AirNow.gov

For further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke and You Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental- health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke