Extreme, hazardous levels of smoke pollution in West Michigan air from Canadian wildfires

Air quality is hazardous in West Michigan on Thursday and will continue to degrade through the day as Canadian wildfire smoke floods the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Michigan is experiencing some of the worst air quality in the country amidst traveling smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires with much of the state seeing "hazardous" Air Quality Index (AQI) levels on Thursday and an Air Quality Alert from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) extended through Friday. The worst of it for West Michigan is in Grand Rapids where levels of fine particulate pollution, known as PM2.5, is 613 as of 10 a.m.—more than double the PM2.5 in Kalamazoo (288). The particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, posing a serious health risk. All AQI levels being recorded in West Michigan and most of the state are considered dangerous to breathe in. "Good" air quality levels on AQI scale fall between 0 and 50. U.S. Air Quality Index classes based on PM2.5 levels: Good: 0-50 Moderate: 51-100 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 101-150 Unhealthy: 151-200 Very Unhealthy: 201-300 Hazardous: 301+ Officials with EGLE are forecasting the air quality across the state to range between Very Unhealthy and Hazardous through Friday and are advising people to avoid strenuous outdoor activities. Everyone who can should avoid or at least limit going outside. Anyone who is a child, an older adult, pregnant, has asthma, a heart disease or any kind of respiratory condition should especially avoid going outside as much as possible. In addition to the health hazards, the smoke is significantly reducing visibility on the roads with some spots down to a mile of clearance. The smoke hit West Michigan around dinnertime Wednesday, and by morning, covered the Mitten skies. The smoke will continue to get worse through Thursday before it's expected to begin dissipating through the weekend. Many outdoor events and activities are moving inside, postponing or cancelling in response to the smoke. For anyone getting stir-crazy inside, Planet Fitness officials announced all its locations in Michigan will have free club access from Thursday until Sunday to allow people to exercise safely. The most updated AQI data can be found with EGLE's online tracking system. National AQI data can be found online here. https://wwmt.com/news/local/extreme-h... _______________ Stay up to date with our social media: WWMT on Facebook:   / wwmtnews   WWMT on Twitter:   / wwmtnews   Subscribe to WWMT on YouTube:    / @wwmtnews   WWMT Daily News Digest:    • WWMT-TV Daily Digest   For more information, visit https://www.wwmt.com/ Have a news tip? Send it directly to us: Email us: [email protected] Call the Newsroom: 800.875.3333 WWMT is a MI based station and a CBS Television affiliate owned and operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today. #WWMT #NEWSCHANNEL3 #Kalamazoo #Michigan