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"For Immediate Release"

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Maine DEP Issues Extended Air Quality Alert for Northern Maine Until July 16

 

*AUGUSTA, July 15, 2025* — The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has issued an extended air quality alert for northern regions of the state. Forecasts indicate that pollution levels will reach levels considered 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' (USG). This alert, now in effect until Wednesday, July 16, 2025

This morning, a dense portion of the smoke plume moved into northern Maine.  This plume is expected to linger into Wednesday, with less dense smoke impacting the remainder of the state.  Thus, Particle Pollution levels are expected to be in the USG range for the northern region and Moderate for the remainder of the state.  Also on Wednesday, Ozone is expected to be Moderate for the entire coast, Good for inland regions and USG for the High Elevations of Acadia National Park.

By Thursday the densest portion of the smoke plume should finally move out of Maine, though Moderate levels of Particle Pollution are still likely for most of the state.  Ozone buildup can’t rule out some hours, but storms have the potential to keep ozone levels in the Good range.  Thursday’s forecast will be updated Wednesday afternoon.

At elevated levels of particle pollution, children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory or heart diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, or COPD can experience reduced lung function and irritation.  In addition, healthy adults who exert themselves outdoors may also notice these health effects.  Affected individuals may notice symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, throat irritation, and/or experience mild chest pain.

Some actions you can take to protect your health during such periods of include:


* Avoiding strenuous outdoor activity
* Closing windows and circulating indoor air with a fan or air conditioner
* Asthmatics should keep their quick-relief medications and action plan handy

Additional health information may be found on the following websites:


* Maine CDC asthma prevention and control [ [link removed] ]
* USEPA's asthma control and management [ [link removed] ]
* AIRNOW for smoke impacted areas [ [link removed] ]

In addition to those in a sensitive group, others who are responsible for the welfare of people impacted by poor air quality are urged to use one of the listed tools to follow the Air Quality Forecast:


* *Maine DEP’s Air Quality Forecast* [ [link removed] ]
* *Maine DEP's Air Quality Hotline*: 1-800-223-1196
* *USEPA’s EnviroFlash email and text alert system* [ [link removed] ]
* *USEPA’s AIRNOW Fire and Smoke Map* [ [link removed] ]
* *USEPA’s AIRNOW Mobile App* [ [link removed] ]
* *Governor Mill’s “Wildfires and Air Quality” online resource* [ [link removed] ]

For more information go to Maine DEP’s air quality web site [ [link removed] ].



"For additional information, contact":

David R. Madore, Deputy Commissioner

[email protected] [ link ]






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This email was sent to [email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Environmental Protection · 17 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333 · 207-287-7688 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]