The view from Cincinnati Cam at Incline Public House on June 28 at 12:04 p.m. Levels of both ozone and tiny particles in the air is in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range, according to the Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency. Photo: Via Cincinnati Cam

Officials are warning people to limit their exposure to a thick fog-like haze blanketing much of the Tri-State, and reports indicate it could take months for the dust to settle for good.

The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency issued an air quality alert on June 28, effective through midnight, due to the wildfires in Canada. The alert is for Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren counties in Ohio; Boone, Campbell, and Kenton counties in Kentucky; and Dearborn County in Indiana. 

The agency said the levels of both ozone and tiny particles in the air, also known as PM2.5, is in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range. The public is encouraged to limit their outdoor exertion, especially children, those with respiratory illnesses, and older adults.

Air quality index levels range from “unhealthy” to “very unhealthy” across Cincinnati, with much of the west side falling under the “heavy” smoke density range. Photo: Google Maps

When will this end?

While the agency’s air quality alert is set to expire at midnight, hazy days such as these are expected to continue throughout the summer and into the fall. Crews started battling rampant wildfires across Canada in early May, an early start to the typical wildfire season. As of June 28, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) reports 480 active wildfires are burning across the country, of which 252 are out of control.

Parts of the Midwest are under a cloud of thick haze from Canadian wildfire smoke, with Downtown Cincinnati on the edge of the “heavy” range. Photo: Google Maps

Protect yourself

Health officials in states like California have said the masks most commonly worn during the height of the COVID pandemic aren’t going to do much to protect you from lingering wildfire smoke. Instead, an N95 mask or respirator masks, when covering both your nose and mouth, can filter out the more harmful pollutants. The Southwest Ohio Air Quality Agency did not immediately respond to CityBeat‘s questions about masking during the current air quality alert.

To stop the air quality from worsening, the agency has issued a list of things to do (and not do) during an air quality alert:

  • Take the bus, carpool, bike or walk instead of driving
  • Refuel your vehicle after 6 p.m., do not top off when refueling and tighten the gas cap
  • Do not idle your vehicle
  • Combine trips or eliminate unnecessary vehicle trips
  • Keep your vehicle maintained with properly-inflated tires and timely oil changes
  • Avoid use of gasoline-powered lawn equipment
  • Avoid use of oil-based paints and stains
  • Never burn leaves or other yard trimmings
  • Always burn clean, seasoned wood in outdoor fire pits, fireplaces and wood stoves and avoid using fire pits or fireplaces for non-essential home heating
  • Conserve electricity

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This article appears in Jun 28 – Jul 11, 2023.