Full Notification

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) has declared an Air Quality Advisory for Friday June 6th, in effect until midnight tonight, for elevated levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) across the Southern Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Pollutants within those areas are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG, Orange AQI) range. The Air Quality Advisory is in effect for the following counties in southwest Michigan... Berrien, Branch, Cass, St. Joseph, and Hillsdale. Smoke associated with Canadian wildfires persist over portions of the state today. Levels of PM2.5 into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) range are expected. 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. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as:

* outdoor burning,

* use of residential wood burning devices. Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. For further information, please see EPA's Air Now site for up-to- date air quality data: https://www.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

* AFFECTED AREAS: CASS ... ST. JOSEPH ... BRANCH ... HILLSDALE ... NORTHERN BERRIEN ... SOUTHERN BERRIEN