RIDEM issues air quality alert for Thursday due to wildfires

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued an air quality alert for Thursday.

The DEM said that the smoke from Canadian wildfires will be impacting the area with unhealthy fine particles.

“Smoke impacts are expected to increase throughout the day, heaviest late, as smoke plumes to our west and northwest are transported into Rhode Island,” the department said.

Wood burning odors and haze should be expected throughout the time the alert is in place.

Exposure to elevated fine particle pollution levels can affect both the lungs and heart which may cause breathing problems, aggravating asthma and other pre-existing lung diseases.

The DEM recommends residents who may be sensitive to air pollution or who have preexisting heart or lung conditions to stay indoors with windows closed and to wear an N95 mask when outdoors.

Canadian wildfires affected air quality throughout the country earlier this month.