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ESCANABA -- As wildfires continue to rage across much of Canada, air quality in Michigan has begun to suffer.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, there were 494 active fires across Canada as of Monday, 258 of which were considered by the CIFFC to be out of control. While the fires themselves cross the entire country, largest number of fires and the vast majority of the "priority fires" identified by the CIFFC were were located in Quebec.
The effects of the fires and Quebec and neighboring Ontario, which together accounted for 37% of the fires in Canada Monday, are beginning to be felt in Michigan, where air quality has dropped significantly.
According to AirNow, a service of the Environmental Protection Agency, the worst areas for air quality in the United States Tuesday were in Michigan, with small portions of neighboring Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana also experiencing "very unhealthy" air conditions due to the smoke from Canadian fires.
In the Upper Peninsula, the worst air conditions were on the far-east end of the peninsula. Most of Chippewa County saw "very unhealthy" air conditions, with the best air on the west side of the county, where air was considered to be "unhealthy."
In Seney, which is the testing site for AirNow's Eastern U.P. Reporting Area, conditions were better, with air quality being reported as "moderate" Tuesday afternoon. Air conditions were expected to worsen today, however, with today's forecast indicating air was "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
In Manistique, air was considered "unhealthy" Tuesday, but conditions were expected to improve Wednesday to be unhealthy only for sensitive groups.
The primary concern in the eastern end of the peninsula was the high amount of particulates in the air. That concern stretched westward as far as Ensign Township, which like Garden, Nahma and Fayette, saw conditions that were deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Beyond hazy skies, residents in the Escanaba and Gladstone area saw better air conditions Tuesday, which were considered "good" under the U.S. Air Quality Index despite measurable increases in ozone. However, conditions were expected to worsen today through Friday to "moderate" conditions.
Identical conditions were forecasted for the Powers area, which was part of the same swath of clearer air that stretched south into portions of Menominee County and north through portions of Baraga, Marquette and Alger counties.
The air quality in the Escanaba, Gladstone, and Powers testing areas were expected to drop primarily due to an increase in ozone and not particulates in the air. It is likely that drops in air quality throughout Central U.P. will also be due, at least in part, to ozone.
There were no measurable air pollutants in Marquette, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Houghton, or the Keeweenaw Peninsula Tuesday, nor were forecasts available for those areas.
The western and southern border of the U.P., however, saw air conditions that were either unhealthy for sensitive groups or simply unhealthy due to particulates. Air conditions were worst in southern Menominee and southeastern Iron county.
The poor conditions across Michigan led to a number of state and local agencies issuing press releases warning residents of the dangers of poor air quality.
In the U.P., the LMAS District Health Department -- which serves Luce, Mackinac, Alger and Schoolcraft counties -- warned residents that poor air quality is particularly hard on children, those with asthma and others with respiratory issues. The department also warned those age 65 and older are at greater risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events when the air quality is poor.
The Michigan State Veterinarian's Office also weighed in on the air conditions, warning residents they should keep their pets indoors with doors and windows closed, avoid extended periods outdoors and strenuous exercise, and ensure clean airflow indoors with fans, air conditioners and air purifiers.
"Similar to humans, animals are also affected when there are issues with air quality, especially birds, animals with underlying respiratory and heart conditions, and other sensitive populations -- such as young or senior animals," said Assistant State Veterinarian, Jennifer Calogero, DVM, PhD. "If animals are being negatively affected by breathing poor quality air, they could exhibit various signs of illness, including coughing, wheezing, having difficulties breathing, eye drainage, lethargy, changing the sound of their vocalization, decreased appetite, and thirst. For any concerns related to the health of your animals, please contact your veterinarian."