Canada wildfires cause air quality alert in NC, including local counties
DEQ Forecasts Code Red or Orange Air Quality for All NC on Wednesday (Photo: NCDEQ)
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Due to rapidly rising levels of fine particle pollution due to smoke from active wildfires in Canada, all of North Carolina will be under a Code Red or Code Orange Air Quality Action Day on Wednesday, June 7th.
All North Carolina counties are under the Code Red alert apart from counties in Southeastern North Carolina, which are expected to remain in the upper Code Yellow range until Tuesday at midnight, when they are then predicted be moved to Code Orange.
After midnight, the Code Orange air quality action day will continue into Wednesday until midnight.
Bladen, Columbus, Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender Counties are included in the Code Orange alert.
Other Southeastern NC counties that will be moved to a Code Orange alert at midnight on Tuesday include:
- Sampson
- Duplin
- Lenoir
- Beaufort
- Onslow
- Carteret
- Jones
- Craven
- Pamlico
According to The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Code Orange on the Air Quality Index (AQI) indicates the potential for elevated levels of particle pollution that could impact sensitive populations.
Sensitive populations include older adults, younger children, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma.
These groups may experience health impacts when outdoors for long periods of time during the conditions.
Code Red on the AQI represents unhealthy air quality for everyone. If you are in an area forecasted to reach Code Red Wednesday, consider limiting prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.
For the latest air quality information, click here.
For a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke, click here.
