WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - AIR QUALITYDIVISION HAS ISSUED A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY FOR FINE PARTICULATES FOR WEST VIRGINA UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT SATURDAY NIGHT.

CONCENTRATIONS OF FINE PARTICULATE MATTER DUE TO WILDFIRE SMOKE WILL PERSIST AT LEVELS CONSISTENT WITH AN AIR QUALITY INDEX OF UNHEALTHY (RED ALERT) TO VERY UNHEALTHY (PURPLE ALERT) FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. AIR QUALITY BEGINS TO IMPROVE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

CODE PURPLE AND CODE RED AIR QUALITY ALERTS MEAN THAT AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE REGION ARE UNHEALTHY TO VERY UNHEALTHY FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION.

A CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY ALERT MEANS THAT AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN THE REGION MAY BECOME UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. SENSITIVE GROUPS INCLUDE CHILDREN, PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM ASTHMA, HEART DISEASE OR OTHER LUNG DISEASES AND THE ELDERLY. THE EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION CAN BE MINIMIZED BY AVOIDING STRENUOUS ACTIVITY OR EXERCISE OUTDOORS.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - AIR QUALITY DIVISION WEBSITE AT: HTTP: DEP.WV.GOV DAQ