Chattanooga facing ‘code orange’ air quality
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — Chattanooga and Hamilton County faced a code orange air quality alert on Thursday.
The local Air Pollution Control Bureau said the poor air quality was “due to wildfire smoke moving up from the south.”
As of Thursday afternoon, air quality levels were in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range. The bureau expected levels to stay elevated through 8 p.m. on February 22.
The bureau suggested that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens reduce their exposure to the poor air quality.
They also provided these tips to reduce exposure:
- Choose less strenuous activities,
- Shorten the amount of time outdoors,
- Wait for the air quality to improve before being active outdoors.
Though it’s currently unclear exactly where the smoke is coming from, there are ways to monitor current wildfires.
Click here to view the current map of Georgia wildfires.
At 6 p.m. on Wednesday, a 23.5-acre fire was reported on Catoosa Mull Lane, in Catoosa and Whitfield Counties.
On Tuesday, a 15-acre fire was reported on Dade Newsome Gap Road in Dade County.
