THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (SCDES) HASISSUED A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ALERT FOR FINE PARTICULATES FOR THE CENTRAL SAVANNAH RIVER, CENTRAL MIDLANDS, AND PORTIONS OF THE PEE DEE REGION OF SOUTH CAROLINA THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT THE FINE PARTICULATE CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE SPECIFIED AREAS MAY APPROACH OR EXCEED UNHEALTHY STANDARDS FOR INDIVIDUALS SENSITIVE TO PARTICLE POLLUTION.

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

SCDES RECOMMENDS THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH RESPIRATORY HEALTH ISSUES LIMIT TIME SPEND 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.

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