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Air Quality Alert issued today for parts of region due to Canadian wildfire smoke

DAYTON — Parts of the Miami Valley are under an Air Quality Alert today as smoke from the Canadian wildfires is making its way into the Miami Valley.

>>‘It is kind of smoky outside;’ Air Quality Alert issued for parts of region Tuesday

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Preble Counties, according to the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.

It said on social media the smoke from the Canadian Wildfires is settling into the Miami Valley Regional resulting in high PM 2.5 levels.

Storm Center 7 Meteorologist Britley Ritz says the smoke is also dropping the visibilities across the area.

During an Air Quality Alert, the Miami Valley Regional Commission is asking people to take the following action to reduce air pollution:

  • Avoid driving if possible. Vehicle emissions cause almost 50% of ground-level ozone. Carpool or take transit or for short trips, walk or ride a bike.
  • Refuel your vehicle after 8:00 p.m. or if possible, wait until after the Air Quality Alert expires. Vapors from gasoline contribute to the smog problem. By refueling after 8:00 p.m. when it’s cooler, smog doesn’t form as easily. Make sure your gas cap fits tightly so gas fumes don’t escape and contribute to the smog problem.
  • Limit use of gasoline-powered equipment, such as lawnmowers, chainsaws, power trimmers, and shredders. Operating a gasoline-powered lawnmower for one hour produces the same amount of pollution as driving a car! Try using non-motorized or battery-powered equipment instead.
  • Mow your lawn in the evening when the sunlight is not as strong, and smog is less likely to form.

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News Center 7′s Xavier Hershovitz spent Tuesday morning in Troy. He said you could smell a smokiness in the air during the early morning hours.

The haze was not hard to miss on Monday. News Center 7′s weather cameras captured that haze capturing Downtown Dayton as the sun was setting.

Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County recommends keeping your windows shut and running the air conditioning if you are trying to stay cool.

Dan Suffoletto, Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County’s Public Information Manager, says if anyone has any breathing issues, they want to be especially careful today.

“What that means for individuals is that they’re at risk of having some breathing difficulties, particularly people who may have diseases such as emphysema or asthma,” he told News Center 7. “This smoke can irritate them even further and cause further breathing difficulties.”

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News Center 7 also talked with people across the Miami Valley on Monday and said they were sort of mesmerized by that haze.

“I’ve never seen haze like this,” said Ian Wisniewski of Kettering.

“It is kind of smoky outside,” Jayly Crutchfield told News Center 7.

You can check the Air Quality Index in the area by visiting this website.

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