The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
has issued an Air Quality Alert for today and Friday July 17, for
elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke.
Pollutants will be in the Hazardous range.

The alert is in effect for all of northern Michigan. This includes
the following counties,

Roscommon, Charlevoix, Missaukee, Wexford, Beaver Island and
surrounding islands, Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Manistee,
Emmet, Iosco, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Eastern Mackinac,
Alcona, Western Mackinac, Montmorency, Southeast Chippewa, Otsego,
Central Chippewa, Antrim, Western Chippewa, Arenac, Leelanau,
Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Alpena, Oscoda, Crawford, and
Gladwin.

It is recommended that everyone should seek cleaner air indoors, and
keep activity levels low. While indoors, you can improve indoor air
quality by: closing windows and minimize opening of doors; use HVAC
systems with MERV-13 filters or higher, or use portable air
cleaners; and avoid activities that make indoor air quality worse,
such as burning candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using
gas stoves, smoking, and spraying aerosol products.

If you must be outdoors for short periods of time, an N95 or P100
respirator marked with NIOSH is recommended. The respirator should
fit tightly, collapse as you breathe in, and not let air in from the
sides. Do not use masks for children under age 2.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site:
https://michigan.gov/MiAir

For up-to-date air quality data nationally, visit EPA's Air Now
site: https://www.airnow.gov

For further health information, please see MDHHS' Wildfire Smoke and
Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-
prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
has issued an Air Quality Alert for today and Friday July 17, for
elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5) due to wildfire smoke.
Pollutants are expected to range from Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.

The alert is in effect for all of northern Michigan. This includes
the following counties,

Roscommon, Charlevoix, Missaukee, Wexford, Beaver Island and
surrounding islands, Mackinac Island/Bois Blanc Island, Manistee,
Emmet, Iosco, Ogemaw, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Eastern Mackinac,
Alcona, Western Mackinac, Montmorency, Southeast Chippewa, Otsego,
Central Chippewa, Antrim, Western Chippewa, Arenac, Leelanau,
Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Alpena, Oscoda, Crawford, and
Gladwin.

It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor
activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory
diseases such as asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing,
coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat,
and eyes.

You can help reduce air pollution by limiting activities, such as
outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices.

Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke
from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning
with MERV-13 or higher rated filters.

For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site:
https://michigan.gov/MiAir

For up-to-date air quality data nationally, visit EPA's Air Now
site: https://www.airnow.gov

For further health information, please see MDHHS' Wildfire Smoke and
Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-
prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.