Michigan Unknown Air Quality Alert | Effective 07/16/2026 08:49

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Alert for Thursday and Friday, July 16 and 17, for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Hazardous range. The Air Quality Alert is in effect for the following counties in southwest Michigan... Berrien, Cass, St Joseph, Branch, and Hillsdale. Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across the region. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will continue through Friday. Everyone should seek cleaner air indoors and keep activity levels low. While indoors, take action to improve the indoor air quality such as: - closing windows and minimize opening of doors - if HVAC systems are not equipped with MERV-13 filters or higher, use portable air cleaners. - avoid activities that make indoor air quality worse: burning candles, using vacuums without a HEPA filter, using gas stoves more than necessary, smoking, spraying aerosol products. If you must be outdoors for short periods of time: - Wear an N95 or P100 respirator marked with "NIOSH". The respirator should fit tightly, collapse as you breathe in and not let air in from the sides. - Do not use masks for children under age 2. It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases like asthma. Monitor for symptoms such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and eyes. For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site: Michigan.gov/MiAir For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPA's Air Now site: AirNow.gov For further health information, please see MDHHS's Wildfire Smoke and You Health site: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury- prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke