Wildfire smoke causes haze and air quality advisory

By Erin Petenko/VTDigger

The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality advisory on Monday afternoon, June 5, warning the poor air quality could be dangerous for at-risk groups.

Wildfire smoke from Quebec was reported as far as the Upper Valley on Tuesday morning, June 6.

Widespread fires in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec and eastern Ontario have caused “unhealthy” air quality across parts of the U.S., but this is the first time this year it has affected Vermont so heavily, according to Bennett Leon, planning section chief of the department’s air quality and climate division.

The National Weather Service forecast there would be improvements throughout the day, while scattered rain could reduce the wildfire smoke even further, meteorologist Rebecca Duell said. But since the wildfires are ongoing, there could be “off and on” impacts to Vermont in the near future.

Leon said the current level of pollutants in the air is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” including people with respiratory conditions, young children, older adults and people who work outside. The department recommends at-risk groups stay indoors with the windows closed, and everyone should keep an eye out for symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, school activities with short outdoor periods such as recess should be safe, but for longer activities like athletics, kids may need more breaks and less intense activities.

Leon said Vermonters could use the agency’s AirNow.gov website to check the air quality in their area going forward, along with more detailed recommendations for different categories of air pollution.