Air Quality Alert extended to Thursday as Canadian wildfires continue

Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
An Air Quality Alert has been extended in Greater Cincinnati due to ongoing wildfires in Canada. Smoke from the fires resulted in haze and low visibility Wednesday.
An Air Quality Alert has been extended in Greater Cincinnati due to ongoing wildfires in Canada. Smoke from the fires resulted in haze and low visibility Wednesday.

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency issued an Air Quality Alert in Greater Cincinnati Wednesday as air pollution from Canadian wildfires persists throughout the region.

The alert goes into effect all of Thursday and covers Butler, Clermont, Hamilton and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties in Kentucky and Dearborn County in Indiana.

The agency said it expects to see Air Quality Index levels in the "unhealthy" range Thursday. The public, especially children, older adults and those with respiratory illnesses, are encouraged to limit their time outside.

Why is it smoky in Ohio?

Destructive wildfires in Canada began prompting air quality warnings in the U.S. earlier this month.

What part of Canada is on fire?

Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia in eastern Canada and western provinces like British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan have seen massive fires during this year's wildfire season.

A map by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre shows where fires are reported each day. There were 477 active fires Wednesday, according to the interagency.

What to do during an Air Quality Alert

The Ohio Department of Health advised Ohioans Tuesday to limit their time outdoors, especially for sensitive groups. Here are other steps you can take, according to department director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff:

  • Spend time in a room you can close off from outside air.

  • Avoid using candles, gas, propane, wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and aerosol sprays. Smoking tobacco products and vacuuming may worsen indoor air pollution.

  • If you have a central air conditioning system, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If your system has a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode or close the outdoor intake damper.

  • Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. If your eyes, nose or throat are irritated, running a humidifier may provide some relief.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Canadian wildfires: Air Quality Alert extended in Cincinnati