Wildfires threaten CT air quality, some turn to masks: Live updates

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Hazy smoke from wildfires burning in Quebec hangs over the Connecticut River in Glastonbury, Conn., on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

The sun is seen though clouds in Waterbury, Conn., Tuesday, June 6, 2023. The sun's bright color is caused by the smoke in an effect known as Mie scattering, experts said. The conditions have been caused by smoke from Canada wildfires.

The sunrise in Connecticut on the morning of June 6, 2023, was obscured by smoke from Canada wildfires.

Smoke from wildfires burning in Canada will create another "unhealthy air" day on Wednesday in Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast, officials said.

Air quality monitoring sites across Connecticut reported unhealthy levels of fine particles in the air early Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fire and Smoke Map.

The level means most people should generally try to stay inside and keep any outdoor activities light and short, according to the EPA. People who are sensitive to poor air should consider moving indoors, the EPA said.

A few monitoring sites in Connecticut recorded air pollution amounts just below that level, reporting the air was "unhealthy for sensitive groups." As with unhealthy air quality, the EPA said people should keep outdoor activities short and light.

Those at risk from the air pollution include people with heart and lung diseases, older adults, children, people who are pregnant and those who spend a lot of time outdoors, the EPA said.

Different types of pollution can cause air quality concerns. The pollution caused by the fires is from fine particles in the air referred to as "PM 2.5." The tiny particles can get into the body's lower respiratory system, where they cause irritation.

Here's a map of how the smoke is forecast to impact Connecticut as well as where it's triggering air quality sensors.

Pictures captured in Connecticut on Wednesday showed the extent of how Canada wildfires burning hundreds of miles away in Quebec have blanketed the region in a thick haze of smoke.

The plume of smoke has descended to the ground, causing a burning odor and casting the light from the sun in an orange haze.

In Bridgeport, the smoke cast a gray haze over Black Rock Harbor in the morning.

By the afternoon, the smoke had intensified into a fog that cast an eerie orange glow.

Health officials are recommending people stay indoors if they want to reduce their exposure to the plume of smoke blanketing Connecticut from wildfires burning in Canada.

But for people who are especially vulnerable or need to be outside, there's another option: Strapping on a mask you probably have squirreled away in a drawer somewhere.

Search data from Google Trends shows interest in masks jumped in Connecticut outside of Fairfield County Tuesday and Wednesday, as the smoke descended over the state.

While certain types of masks like N95 respirators can provide protection from wildfire smoke, according to AirNow.gov, a federal inter-agency website that provides wildfire smoke monitoring, "people who stay indoors or limit their time outdoors during wildfire emergencies are doing the most effective thing to avoid exposure and may not need to wear a respirator."

People who need to be outside for an extended period of time in a smoky or ash-filled environment "may benefit from using a tight-fitting N95 or P100 respirator to reduce their exposure," the site says.

People "who are experiencing health effects" from smoke may also want to wear a respirator, even if they’re indoors, the site said. For a respirator that will protect against smoke, look for a "particulate respirator" marked as tested and approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Those can be either N95 respirators, which were commonly worn to protect against COVID-19, or P100 respirators which often cover half or all of the wearer's face and removable filter elements.

However, wearing a respirator can make it difficult to breathe, so people with lung or heart conditions should be careful wearing one, particularly in warmer temperatures, experts said.

"If you have difficulty breathing, get dizzy, or have other symptoms while wearing a respirator, go to a place with cleaner air and remove it," the AirNow website says.

Experts say it's a good idea to limit your time exercising outdoors while smoke continues to blanket Connecticut, but otherwise healthy people shouldn't panic.

Those with preexisting lung or heart conditions should take some additional precautions, such as staying indoors, putting on an air purifier or wearing an N95 mask, experts said.

"Breathing smoke into your lungs is bad," said Dr. Mark Metersky, chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at UConn Health. "It certainly is known to increase the risk of ending up in the ER for the hospital with asthma attacks or COPD exacerbations, that's well known when there's a wildfire incident."

For most people, Metersky said to avoid exercising outdoors, since that increases your respiratory rate and means you’ll be breathing in more of the smoke.

But "certainly don't panic if you have to go outside and do an errand," he said.

For those with lung disease, or who otherwise want to minimize their exposure, "they can pull out their old N95, which is effective in filtering out most of these particles," Metersky added.

Some symptoms to watch for include a cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in your chest.

But the danger from any contamination from the smoke on surfaces is basically nil.

"As far away as we are, you're not seeing soot depositing," Metersky said.

The poor air quality has hospitals in the state on alert for respiratory issues.

"It's likely we could see an increase in patients with respiratory concerns today given the persistent poor air quality," said Dr. Heather Machen, the director of pediatric emergency medicine at Stamford Health. "We’re well prepared to treat those patients and provide them with the care they need."

Machen said the hospital saw one asthmatic patient in the emergency department Tuesday.

"Generally, this time of year with the change in seasons brings an influx of asthmatic patients to our ED (emergency department) with weather related symptoms," Machen noted.

Machen advised residents to limit their time outdoors, especially if they have respiratory issues like asthma, until the air quality improves.

Trumbull Superintendent Martin Semmel said recess and other outdoor activities are being moved indoors Wednesday due to the poor air quality. He added that the principals communicated with families about the move earlier today.

Semmel said any decisions about changes to outdoor activities for Thursday will be made that morning.

In New Haven, the city's Emergency Operations Center warned that it is tracking a "large area of very dense smoke" on satellite that's expected to impact the area by Wednesday afternoon.

"This dense smoke will have a large presence in our area may reduce visibility at a higher level than yesterday," Rick Fontana, New Haven's director of emergency operations, said in an update shortly before noon.

He noted the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection had issued an Air Quality Action Day for fine particulates in the smoke, and had recommended people limit their time outdoors until conditions improve.

The National Weather Service said state officials have issued air quality alerts across all of Connecticut on Wednesday in response to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection declared an Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates, the weather service said. The alerts are in effect across all eight counties until midnight.

"An Air Quality Action Day means that fine particulates concentrations within the region may approach or exceed unhealthy standards," the alert said.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference, the state's governing body for high school sports, postponed its state tournament lacrosse games for Wednesday afternoon due to the air quality forecast and high aerobic intensity nature of lacrosse.

There were 12 CIAC semifinal games impacted, six each in boys and girls lacrosse. The CIAC also postponed its boys and girls tennis semifinals.

The CIAC said graduations and the unexpected air quality forecast are challenges in rescheduling games at this time.

The smoke from Canadian wildfires has prompted some schools around Connecticut to hold gym class and recess indoors, but so far there haven't been any widespread reports of schools closing for the day.

Fran Rabinowitz, executive director of Connecticut Association of Public Schools Superintendents, said leaders of school districts around the state are closely monitoring air quality.

"Some of them had to cut field days short yesterday," she said Wednesday. "Many of them said it was better this morning so they were getting field days done in the morning."

That was true at the Long Ridge School, a private school in Stamford.

"For PE and for recess we are keeping children inside today," said Carissa Lewis, the head of the school. It was mostly "out of an abundance of caution," Lewis added.

"They haven't seen many health problems directly associated with air quality," Lewis said. "Some of the adults have complained of not feeling well, but we haven't had any issues with children."

The Foote School, a private K-9 school in New Haven, said school remained open, but students' time outdoors would be limited. The school sent a letter to parents Wednesday morning informing them student would remain inside, said Frances Moore, a spokesperson for the school.

"Recess and PE will be indoors, and the scheduled field trips for kindergarten and first grade have been canceled," the letter said.

As the air quality in Greenwich continues to be at unhealthy levels, district officials have been holding outdoor activities, such as recess, indoors.

"As we did yesterday, we are minimizing exposure outside where we can on the advice of our health professionals," wrote Jonathan Supranowitz, Greenwich Public Schools’ director of communications, on Wednesday.

So, recess at all 11 elementary schools and three middle schools have been held indoors both Tuesday and Wednesday as the air quality continues to be unhealthy.

Stamford officials reiterated warnings about the smoke on Wednesday as smoke from the Quebec wildfires continued to blanket the state.

"Please note that today the City of Stamford is expected to experience an increase in fine particulate matter particles in the air due to wildfires in Quebec," the city said in a post on its official Instagram page. "Time outside should be limited for children, seniors, and those with respiratory diseases."

A post shared by City of Stamford (@cityofstamfordct)

Smoke from the wildfires is expected to elevate fine particulate matter levels "to exceed unhealthy levels for the entire state" Wendesday, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said in a statement.

"When air quality is forecasted to be unhealthy, there is an increased likelihood for all individuals for aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly," DEEP continued. "There are also increased respiratory effects in the general population."

The poor air quality is occurring due to the major wildfires in Quebec, most of which are "out of control," DEEP said. A stalled upper-level, low-pressure system over Nova Scotia is funneling this smoke into Connecticut.

Satellite images show a thick plume of smoke over Connecticut, with an even thicker smoke plume over New York State, according to DEEP.

Fine particles are considered unhealthy between 151 to 200 on the air quality index scale, meaning one cubic meter of air contains between 65 and 150 micrograms of pollutants, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Wednesday's forecast from DEEP showed particulate matter levels in Connecticut would range from 154 to 163 on the air quality index scale.

As Norwalk and the rest of the state grapple with unhealthy air quality Wednesday, Norwalk Public Schools has cancelled all outdoor activities for the day.

"For the safety and well-being of all students and staff, Norwalk Public Schools has suspended all outdoor activities, including field trips headed outside for today," the city said in a news release.

Mayor Henry Rilling also issued an air quality advisory for the city, in partnership with the school district and the city's health department.

"Some members of the general public may experience health effects, and those from sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects," the city said. "Individuals at higher risk include: children and teens, older adults, individuals with heart and lung conditions like asthma, and individuals who are pregnant."

While indoors, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, it's best to keep the air clean by running an air filter or air-conditioning "but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside."

The CDC recommends that people who are at greater risk during wildfire smoke events stay indoors and run an air purifier to keep their indoor air clean.

But those devices can often cost hundreds of dollars.

If the cost of a retail air purifier is too high, there's a home do-it-yourself option that may work for some called a Corsi-Rosenthal box. The devices use a home fan to drive air through commonly-available filters. Instructions and examples of how to build one can be found here.

Smoke from the fires is expected to linger in parts of the state throughout the day Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, and may extend into the overnight hours in some places.

Highs for the day will be in the 70s with a mix of sun and clouds. There's a slight chance showers could develop in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, smoke from the fires blanketed Connecticut, causing sunlight to take on an orangey-red hue and leaving a burning odor in the air.

The phenomenon is caused by the smoke filtering out other types of light coming through the atmosphere.

"You’re probably seeing more oranges and reds," said Eric Allen, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service station in Upton, N.Y., which covers the New York Metro area and southern Connecticut.

Allen said smoke particles in the air cause "Mie scattering" of shorter wavelengths of light.

"What's left visible to the human eye is stuff on the longer end, the yellows, the oranges, the reds," he said.

Other than the overall spooky quality of the red sun and gray sky, the layer of smoke can change the local weather. In smokey areas, the temperature tends to stabilize. Small rain clouds can also form in wildfire smoke.

Staff Writers Vincent Gabrielle, Jordan Fenster, Lisa Backus and Liz Hardaway contributed to this story.