People across Lower Michigan are once again coping with poor air quality. The reason is smoke from the Canadian wildfires, which has caused the 28th Air Quality Alert day so far this year. National Weather Service meteorologist Dave Cook says the combination of wildfire smoke and hot temperatures will make things especially difficult for sensitive groups.
“Since the air quality alert affects those people with sensitivities — lung disease, heart disease, breathing conditions — and extreme heat also affects some of those same groups, the combination of the two would pose a little extra risk,” Cook said.
Cook says people should cut down on activities that contribute to air pollution, like burning yard waste, mowing your lawn, driving, or getting gas. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy says those in sensitive groups — like people with lung disease, heart disease, and children and older adults — should limit prolonged or heavy exertion.
