Canadian Wildfires lead to low air quality in Midwestern states

Photo Credit: Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.

(NATIONAL) People living in states like Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin are being asked to limit time outside because of smoke from Canadian Wildfires that health experts say is at Unhealthy levels.

Meteorologists at The U.S. National Weather Service in Chicago and the NWS in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Indianapolis, Indiana, and Cleveland, Ohio have all forecasted that the poor air quality will continue through Wednesday.

Skies in these areas have been hazy and the smoke has led to officials asking people to stay inside if possible.

The NWS says that poor air quality can make conditions like asthma, heart disease, and lung disease worse.

People living in areas with the low air quality due to the wildfires might also notice a campfire smell in the air.

The NWS in Grand Rapids says that air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children and older adults on Wednesday July 28th and may even reach Very Unhealthy Levels.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is urging people to stay inside if at all possible and also to use air filters to improve the quality of air indoors.

Officials are also urging people in areas affected by the smoke to keep pets indoors except for quick bathroom breaks.

EGLE also says that windy conditions make it easier for wildfire smoke to spread even to hundreds of miles away as is the case with the Canadian Wildfires.

The EPA also has an interactive map that shows the different levels of air quality around the country.