Montpelier, Vt. – The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is issuing an air quality alert for Thursday, July 16, beginning at 6:00 AM through 11:00 PM.  Counties affected are Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties. 

Wildfire smoke from Canada is expected to elevate concentrations of fine particulate matter pollution to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” (code orange) on the Air Quality Index in southern Vermont. Particle pollution may be Moderate (code yellow) on the Air Quality Index for central and northern Vermont. Wildfire smoke can cause a hazy or milky appearance in the sky and may be noticeable by smell at times. The air quality forecast will be updated on Thursday afternoon for conditions expected on Friday. 

What: Air Quality Alert issued for Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) from Wildfire Smoke

Where: Bennington, Rutland, Windham, and Windsor Counties

When: Thursday, July 16, beginning at 6:00 AM through 11:00 PM

Impacts: Poor air quality and potential health concerns.

Who needs to be concerned: Sensitive groups which include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, pregnant people, and outdoor workers, as well as people who spend a lot of time outdoors and people experiencing homelessness. It is possible for anyone to experience symptoms of exposure such as scratchy eyes or throat, headache or coughing. These are signs to take it easy or move indoors.

What should I do: Make outdoor activities shorter and less intense. It’s OK to be active outdoors but take more breaks. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.

To stay safe and informed, consider taking these actions:

• View up-to-date air quality forecasts and current air pollution levels in Vermont at AirNow.gov.
• Limit exposure to air pollution:
  • Find more information about how to stay safe from air pollution at www.healthvermont.gov/AirQuality

• Sign up for air quality alerts:
  • VT-ALERT for emergency air quality alerts:
    • Users will get an alert when there is poor air quality. The alert will include guidance on how users can protect themselves from poor air quality. Existing users may need to log in to their accounts to modify their settings to receive air quality alerts.
    • Find the Air Quality alerts under Subscriptions, Health Alerts.
  • EnviroFlash for daily air quality forecasts and alerts.
• Learn more:
• Children and Youth Activities Guide for Air Quality
• Vermont DEC Air Quality and Climate Division (AQCD)
• AQCD Forecasts and Real-Time Conditions
• EPA AirNow Fire and Smoke Map