Hagerstown, local towns reported 'unhealthy' air quality ratings at peak of wildfire drift

Coming off the brunt of the noxious wildfire smoke that shrouded much of the Northeast, Washington County was in the "red zone" for air quality on Thursday, creating hazardous conditions for at-risk groups.

"I think everyone predicted that it would probably not get into the 'very unhealthy category,'" said Joelle Butler, a public information officer at the Washington County Health Department. Butler said she thinks "it's lasting a bit longer than they expected it to."

Eastern Canada is being consumed by wildfires with 400 active wildfires raging across the country Wednesday, reported USA Today. The result is a mass of toxic smoke, funneled across the northern border and toward the seaboard by easterly winds. Maryland is snug in the affected region as smoke touched cities as far west as Detroit.

According to AirNow.gov, a real-time air quality tracker, Hagerstown reached a hazardous 200 on the Air Quality Index scale Thursday morning. This places the town in the "unhealthy" range which poses a specific risk to people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens, according to AirNow.

Butler said the location of Washington County contributed to the degree to which the effects of the smoke were felt.

"We're in a valley between two mountains so we're very susceptible to the poor air kind of getting stuck in that valley," Butler said. "So it can be ripe for - under the right conditions - very poor air."

Almost every town across the county experienced air quality index ratings well into the red zone as rates stayed at a steady 194 for most of the day. A clear exception was Cascade, which hovered below 50 for a "good" rating, illustrating the valley effect as the town is at a higher elevation.

When will the smoke clear?

As the smoke blows over, the air quality is expected to improve in the coming days, according to AirNow.

In Hagerstown, the current forecast predicts the air quality rating will improve starting Friday, with a moderate air quality level between 50 and 100 from Friday to Saturday. That is as far as the data extends.

"It looks like according to everything they're saying. It's going to hopefully get a little better as of (Friday)," Butler said. "So I think in general, we just want to tell people to, take some common-sense precautions as long as they see that haze or smell that smoke outside."

Butler said that though the air quality is expected to improve, it's important to note "getting the fires under control is really what needs to happen in order for the air quality to change."

"I think that climate change science proves that it's a reality. And so it's important to educate yourself on what's happening to our planet," Butler said. "It's very different air than it was when I was young."

How harmful is the smoke and what can you do?

The effects of breathing in wildfire smoke for extended periods are damaging to the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and eye irritation are common symptoms of the various gases and particles present in wildfire smoke.

Butler advised that if working outside, be mindful of the unhealthy conditions, wear a mask and take a break indoors. She encouraged turning off air conditioners and any other cooling units that may funnel the noxious smoke indoors.

According to AirNow, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens should take the following steps to reduce their exposure:

• Choose less strenuous outdoor activities, such as walking instead of running.

• Shorten the amount of time spent outdoors.

• Reschedule outdoor activities for when the air quality improves.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Air quality rating for Washington County, Md., in red zone