The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
(EGLE) has issued an Air Quality Alert for July 15 and July 16, 2026,
for elevated levels of fine particulate due to wildfire smoke.
Pollutants within those areas are expected to range from Unhealthy
for Sensitive Groups in the south to Unhealthy in the north. Hourly
concentrations at times may reach Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.
This is a Statewide Air Quality Alert.
Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires will continue moving into
the region this week. The plumes Wednesday morning have reached the
upper peninsula, and the plumes will continue sinking south, reaching
the Michigan/Indiana border Wednesday evening.
It is recommended that, when possible, you avoid strenuous outdoor
activities, especially those with heart disease and respiratory
conditions like asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing,
coughing, chest tightness, dizziness, or burning in nose, throat, and
eyes. You can help reduce air pollution by limiting activities, such
as:
- outdoor burning;
- use of residential wood burning devices.
Tips for households:
- Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting
indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13
or higher rated filters.
For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan visit the MiAir site:
Michigan.gov/MiAir
For up-to-date air quality data nationally visit EPAs Air Now site:
AirNow.gov
For further health information, please see MDHHS Wildfire Smoke and Your Health
site:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury-prev/environmental-health/your-health-
and-wildfire-smoke
Air Quality Alert
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
July 15, 2026