THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (SCDES) HASISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR FINE PARTICULATES FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH CAROLINA:

GEORGETOWN AND WILLIAMSBURG.

THE AIR QUALITY ALERT IS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY, APRIL 23RD. AN AIR QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT THE FINE PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED AREA MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS DUE TO LARGE WILDFIRES BURNING OVER SOUTHERN GEORGIA.

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 REGION 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.

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 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.

SOUTH CAROLINA AIR QUALITY FORECAST: HTTPS: DES.SC.GOV PROGRAMS BUREAU-AIR-QUALITY AIR-QUALITY-FORECAST

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

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