THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES HAS ISSUEDAN AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR FINE PARTICULATES FOR ALLENDALE, BEAUFORT, BERKELEY, CHARLESTON, COLLETON, DORCHESTER, HAMPTON, AND JASPER COUNTIES IN SOUTH CAROLINA. AN AIR QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT THE FINE PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED AREAS MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS FOR MOST OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

SOUTHERLY WINDS ON THE WEST SIDE OF HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED JUST OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST WILL CONTINUE TRANSPORT SMOKE FROM THE SOUTHERN GEORGIA WILDFIRES INTO SOUTH CAROLINA AND THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA. AS OF THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS WEDNESDAY, AIR QUALITY WAS ALREADY DETERIORATING OVER THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER AREA AND THE MIDLANDS. AS STABLE CONDITIONS DEVELOP THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT, SMOKE IS EXPECTED TO EXPAND IN COVERAGE AND BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE. SMOKE FROM THE WILDFIRES IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE REGION ON THURSDAY.

THE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES LIMIT TIME SPENT OUTDOORS AND OR MOVE ALL ACTIVITIES INDOORS TO AVOID THE SMOKE OR FINE PARTICULATES. KEEP WINDOWS AND DOORS CLOSED. RUN AN AIR CONDITIONER IF YOU HAVE ONE BUT KEEP THE FRESH-AIR INTAKE CLOSED AND THE FILTER CLEAN TO PREVENT OUTDOOR SMOKE AND FINE PARTICULATES FROM GETTING INSIDE. PLEASE NOTE THAT LOCATIONS CLOSEST TO THE WILDFIRE ACTIVITY ARE MORE LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE SMOKE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FINE PARTICULATES, PLEASE VISIT: HTTPS: FIRE.AIRNOW.GOV

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WILDFIRES AND PRESCRIBED BURNS, PLEASE VISIT: HTTPS: WWW.SCFC.GOV