Milwaukee health officials issue air quality alert as wildfire smoke looms

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The ongoing wildfires in Canada continue to cause poor air quality in Wisconsin. 

The City of Milwaukee Health Department has issued an air quality advisory due to the wildfire smoke. Air Quality Index (AQI) is currently in the "very unhealthy" category -- meaning all members of the general public may experience health effects, including coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes. 

Officials with the City of Milwaukee Health Department said the air particles pose a risk to everyone.

"Even for those of us who do not have underlying health conditions you may find yourself short of breath, coughing, you know really affected in air quality such as this," said Dr. Nick Tomaro, emergency preparedness environmental health director at the Milwaukee Health Department.

The dangerous air quality is a result of the wildfires in Canada.

"These are still small particles coming from combustion, coming from this wildfire. These are essentially what you call soot, it's that unburned carbon that is left in the atmosphere when something burns, said Dr. Somesh Roy, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Marquette University.

Canadian officials are already referring to this wildfire season as one of the worst on record, saying the country must prepare for a long summer. Many times, the fires are not being put out because they do not pose a threat to human life.

"They're used to having a lot of the fires in their remote areas and in a lot of the areas, they're not extinguishing the fires," Wisconsin DNR Cooperative Fire Specialist Ron Schneider said. "It's kind of a let-burn policy right now, and I guess that's their normal practice as long as there is not timber threatened, and obviously, people or houses would be a number one priority."

Though the fires have been burning millions of acres up north for weeks, we are seeing a lot of smoke now because of an increase in wind.

"This year, we've seen a lot more of the north winds with our weather pattern, so we're seeing a lot of this smoke in the Midwest than we normally see in June," Schneider said.

To stay safe during this time, the health department says everyone in the Milwaukee area should:

• Avoid all outdoor activities and stay inside as much as possible
• Close your windows and doors
• Implement high-efficiency air filters indoors, if available
• Wear an N95 mask if you have to be outside, especially those with existing medical conditions
• Check on your friends, family, and neighbors, especially older adults and pregnant people, to ensure their safety

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) also issued a multi-day air quality advisory through Thursday, June 29. The most significant air quality and health impacts are anticipated between noon Tuesday and noon Wednesday, June 28. 

Sensitive groups, which include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, those who are pregnant, and those who work outdoors – should consider moving all events inside.

Protect yourself from wildfire smoke

The best way to avoid wildfire smoke is to stay indoors. Be sure to:

• Close windows and doors.
• Run A/C on recirculate.
• Use an indoor air purifier.

If you must spend time outside during wildfire smoke events:

• Check air quality conditions before leaving the house and throughout the day.
• Avoid or limit exercising outdoors.
• Consider wearing an N-95 mask, especially if outdoors for an extended period.

The fact that you can't see Lake Michigan from the BMO Tower because of wildfire smoke is wild.

Milwaukee looks like another planet right now. AQI is at 191 ? pic.twitter.com/6IJu1CIstv

— Sam Kuffel (@SamKuffelWx) June 27, 2023

Experts say they believe the air quality is likely to get even worse before it gets better. 

Track Air Quality Index (AQI) HERE.