Canadian wildfire smoke hangs over downtown Wausau. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wildfire smoke has blanketed Central Wisconsin for a second day, pushing air quality to dangerous levels.
The Department of Natural Resources has extended an air quality alert to noon Friday, with air quality sitting between the unhealthy (red) and hazardous (maroon) levels.
Those levels can be dangerous for everyone, especially those with underlying conditions. Doctors at Aspirus Health say the biggest threat comes from airborne particles, which can irritate the body.
Wildfire smoke contains soot, ash, and other fine particles that can irritate the lungs and airways. As the body works to clear those particles, children may develop coughing, congestion, wheezing, increased mucus production, or shortness of breath.
“The bigger the particles, the bigger problem they cause because those particles get lodged in your lungs,” said Sarah Dennison, MD, a pediatrician with Aspirus Health via press release. “Some kids will produce a lot of mucus in an effort to clear all that smoke, so they’ll become very stuffy with lots of drainage and a productive cough.”
The smoke has also canceled many outdoor events and activities. Among those are the Northwoods League softball games between Wausau and Grand Forks that were scheduled for today. Those have been canceled and will not be made up.
The Wausau Woodchucks baseball game in Thunder Bay, Ontario, has also been impacted. Today’s game has been called off, with no makeup date announced. The Border Cats and Woodchucks are scheduled to play again on Friday, with Wausau traveling to Duluth this weekend.
Comments