More than half of Wisconsin is under an air quality alert for sensitive groups due to smoke from Ca [View all]

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The haze of wildfire smoke from Canada settles over Superior beyond the Bong Bridge on June 14, 2023. Danielle Kaeding/WPR







More than half of Wisconsin is under air quality advisory due to smoke from Canadian wildfires

More than half of Wisconsin is under an air quality alert for sensitive groups due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, marking the fifth such advisory this year.




Prior to this year, Wisconsin hadn't issued advisories for fine particle pollution in the spring since 2011
By Danielle Kaeding


Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 3:10pm

More than half of Wisconsin is under an air quality alert for sensitive groups due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, marking the fifth such advisory this year.

The alert comes as the state is seeing its most active spring for fine particle pollution in more than a decade. The wildfires and subsequent smoke have underscored the role climate change is having on air quality and public health.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued the air quality advisory Wednesday for particulate matter 2.5, or fine particle pollution. The alert went into effect at 8 a.m. and remains in effect until noon Thursday across 41 counties spanning northern, west-central and central Wisconsin.

The fires combined with north winds are carrying smoke down into the region placing those most vulnerable at risk from poor air quality, according to Craig Czarnecki, outreach coordinator for the DNR’s air management program.