Wicomico issues air quality alert due to Canadian wildfires: What you need to know now

Kristian Jaime, Salisbury Daily Times
Updated ·2 min read

Canadian wildfires are once again wreaking havoc on the region amid another air quality alert issued by the Wicomico County Health Department for Thursday, June 29.

According to the statement by the department, "the Maryland Department of Environment has issued an Air Qualityalert across Maryland's Eastern Shore. An air quality alert means that fine particulate concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards."

As part of the alert, they suggest those with heart or lung medical issues, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

  • Keep outdoor activities short.

  • Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Individuals without such preexisting conditions are also advised to "choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard," the statement said.

Additional recommendations include shortening the amount of time you are active outdoors or be active outdoors when air quality is better.

More on past alerts Canadian wildfires lead to hazy, smoky skies in Maryland: Here's what's ahead in forecast

Events like Salisbury University's Carillon Concert scheduled for this evening have already issued a statement asking the public to keep this advisory in mind when deciding whether to attend. The community is still invited and asked to bring lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy music from The Square or Perdue Hall Lawn.

The national picture regarding air quality, wildfires

A satellite image shows smoke from Canadian wildfires hovering over the Ohio River valley and the mid-Atlantic region Tuesday.
A satellite image shows smoke from Canadian wildfires hovering over the Ohio River valley and the mid-Atlantic region Tuesday.

Nationally, the quickly declining air quality had led 23 states to already issue air quality alerts across the Midwest, South and East Coast.

Populations on the East Coast also were under air quality alerts Wednesday, including the Washington, D.C., area. The quality was expected to worsen and spread up and down the coast, infiltrating the New York City region and as far south as the Carolinas into Thursday.

Air quality is unhealthy because of the level of particulates in the air from Canadian wildfires, which have drifted into the U.S. at various points in the past several weeks.

There were 483 active wildfires throughout Canada as of Tuesday, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Of those, 253 were considered out of control. Nearly a quarter of the fires burning in Canada were in Quebec.

This year has seen a record-breaking fire season for Canada, and it's still early. More than 29,393 square miles have burned this year, exceeding the record set in 1989 of 29,187 square miles, according to the National Forestry Database.

More on past years of fires Why it's so hazy on Delmarva

This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: What to know as Wicomico gives air quality alert with Canada wildfires