Canadian wildfire smoke will continue to reduce air quality across Maine on Wednesday.
A dense ground-level plume of smoke has carried high levels of particle pollution into the state, which are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” level on Wednesday for northern Maine, according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
That also includes parts of central and eastern Maine. The remainder of the state is experiencing more moderate levels of particle pollution, though it could reach higher levels briefly later in the day.
The environmental department forecasts that the particle pollution could linger into Thursday, when it’s forecast to reach more moderate levels across the state.
Because of the particle pollution, the DEP cautions that children, health adults who are exerting themselves and those with respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, may experience shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation and uncomfortable sensations in their chests.
The department advised people to avoid strenuous outdoor activity or wear masks like N95 or KN95 to protect themselves.
That comes as 1,073 wildfires are burning across Canada, as of Tuesday, according to Quartz. Of those fires, 66 percent are burning out of control. So far this year, wildfires have consumed 16.5 million hectares, more than double the record of 7.1 million hectares burned in 1995, Quartz reported.
