Press release from Buncombe County:
Today is a code ORANGE air quality forecast day for the valleys and ridge tops of Asheville and Buncombe County today. As wildfire smoke from Canada continues moving into North Carolina, air quality and visibility will be impacted.
A CODE ORANGE Air Quality Day means that air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Children, active adults, and those with heart or respiratory disease, including asthma, should limit outdoor activity.
An ORANGE forecast means it is an Air Quality Action Day for Buncombe County. No open burning is allowed.
Note: Open Burning is generally prohibited on Air Quality Action Days. Burning trash and other non-vegetative material is always prohibited.
Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency Director, Ashley Featherstone, emphasizes the main messages related to this air alert, saying, “There are two important actions that we need to community to be aware of when code orange is in effect. First, we encourage people with respiratory disease or illness, including asthma, to limit outdoor activity. Open burning is not allowed on code orange days. Please refrain from any open burning until the air action alert has been lifted.”
Care for the Air:
- Drive less: carpool, vanpool, take the bus, telecommute.
- Conserve electricity.
- Pack a lunch or walk to lunch.
- Avoid idling your vehicle.
- Refuel and mow after 6:00pm.
Please visit https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/ for up-to-date forecasts and in-depth discussion.
Please call the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency if you have any questions at (828) 250-6777.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.