BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. -- On Friday, meteorologists at the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued air quality advisories for levels of fine particulate in the air statewide today and into Saturday morning due to smoke from ongoing wildfires in Canada.

"Conditions maybe unhealthy for sensitive groups and there is a possibility that hourly levels could reach the unhealthy range for a short period of time," EGLE said.

They say meteorologists continue to track wildfires, continue to assess conditions, and will issue additional advisories or alerts if necessary.

“The 2023 Canadian wildfire event emphasized how important communication is when wildfire smoke may impact Michigan’s communities,” said Annette Switzer, EGLE’s Air Quality Division director, “We want to ensure residents are informed and know how to protect themselves and their families.”

To keep animals from poor quality air, bring them inside.

“Similar to humans, animals are also affected when there are issues with air quality, especially birds, animals with underlying respiratory and heart conditions, and other sensitive populations—such as young or senior animals,” said State Veterinarian, Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM.

“If animals are being negatively affected by breathing poor quality air, they could exhibit various signs of illness, including coughing, wheezing, having difficulties breathing, eye drainage, lethargy, changing the sound of their vocalization, decreased appetite, and thirst. For any concerns related to the health of your animals, please contact your veterinarian.”

Three tips for animal owners:

• Keeping animals indoors with doors and windows closed and limiting the amount of time they spend outdoors.
• Avoiding strenuous activities/exercise.
• Ensuring clean air flow when indoors by using fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, etc.

INFORMATION FROM EGLE: 

What is the difference between an advisory and an alert?

An Advisory is called when two or more (or widespread) monitors are expected to reach or exceed the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange air quality index (AQI) threshold.

The Advisory is designed to raise awareness for those who are particularly sensitive to USG level Fine Particulate (PM2.5) levels along with raising awareness for those who are not directly affected but could still take action to help lower the overall pollution levels.

An Alert is called when two or more (or widespread) monitors are expected to reach or exceed the Unhealthy threshold. The Alert range is for Unhealthy (Red AQI), Very Unhealthy (Purple AQI) and Hazardous (Maroon AQI) pollution thresholds.

The Alert is designed to raise heightened awareness because all health groups are included, can be affected, and should take action to help protect themselves.

The Alert is not designed to negate the AQI categories/thresholds as there is different messaging within said thresholds. The Alert will include the expected AQI Categories to help people understand forecasted pollution levels.

The Air Quality Index:

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, provides a color-coded framework for residents to see the levels of some types of air pollution in their area. The higher the AQI, the worse the air quality and the more cause for concern.

Currently the AQI for particulate matter (PM) is high in many parts of Michigan and the eastern U.S. due to smoke and fires in the U.S. and particularly in parts of Canada. The AQI is used for several major pollutants including ground-level ozone and particulates.

How to sign up for alerts:

You can sign up for alerts through the EnviroFlash system. This subscriber system enables you to select the area for which you would like to receive alerts. The system will send the alert directly to your email or send you a text message.

Protecting your health during smoke events:

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) urges residents to monitor air quality conditions in their area and adjust their level of physical activity according to the Your Health and Wildfire Smoke guidance.

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens, pregnant people and outdoor workers may be more susceptible to the impacts of wildfire smoke.

“We want Michigan families to know how to best take precautions to protect their health and safety during air quality events,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive.

“We urge Michiganders to check the Air Quality Index regularly to decide if they should be participating in outdoor activities and use the website to help determine what actions they should take to keep themselves and their families safe.”

Outdoor recreation activities

Smoke from wildfires may affect some individuals participating in outdoor recreational activities.

“We urge folks to plan accordingly by taking precautions based on the current conditions, air quality advisories and recommendations and forecasts,” said John Pepin, Michigan Department of Natural Resources deputy public information officer.

“Always play it safe, know before you go and plan ahead.”

In addition, always check to see if burning is permitted in your area before you decide to burn by checking to map and regulations online. Always pack safety with you before conducting any type of burning activity.

For more tips on burning and fire safety, visit the DNR’s Fire Management webpage.