Visit the Fire and Smoke Map to see the latest localized air quality conditions, fire locations and activity recommendations. Smoke forecast outlooks may also be available for your area.

The air quality index (AQI) is a tool that tells us the daily air quality. There’s a U.S. AQI for fire major pollutants including particle pollution or particulate matter (PM).

Particulate matter (PM) is made up of tiny pieces of solids or liquids that are in the air. Some particles are big or dark enough to see (smoke). Fine (smaller) particles, called PM2.5, are more dangerous because they can get into the deep parts of your lungs — or even into your blood.

Particle pollution has also been linked to:

• Eye irritation
• Lung and throat irritation
• Trouble breathing
• Lung cancer
• Problems with babies at birth (low birth weight)
• For those with heart disease, breathing in particle pollution can cause serious problems like a heart attack.

Recommendations during air quality alerts

During unhealthy for sensitive groups (AQI orange) to unhealthy for everyone air quality events (AQI red), MDHHS advises the following:

• For people with heart or lung disease, pregnant people, older adults aged 65+, children and teens it is suggested to take the following steps to reduce exposure:
  •  Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
  • Keep outdoor activities short.
  • Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

•  For everyone else:
  • Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
  • Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
  • Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

During very unhealthy or hazardous for everyone air quality (purple to maroon Air Quality Index levels), MDHHS advises the following for everyone:

• Stay indoors with the doors and windows closed using MERV-13 or better air filtration.
• Seek shelter elsewhere if you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed. Contact your local health department to find out if there is a shelter or cooling center nearby.
• Use air filters to improve indoor air quality. Whether you have a central air conditioning system or a portable room unit, use high efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. If you don’t have access to those filter systems, you can create a temporary air purifier with a 2012 or newer box fan and attaching a MERV-13 or higher air filter to it. Information is available online.
• Keep activity levels low.
• Avoid outdoor activities.
• Use N95 or P100 masks if you have to be outside.
  • Surgical and cloth masks are not recommended as they are not designed to prevent breathing in the fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke.

Even if the forecast is Orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups), there may be times during the day when air quality is OK for outdoor activities. Check the current air quality to see if you can be safely active outdoor.

 Sign up for air quality notifications at enviroflash.info/.