**--- PRESS RELEASE ---
"For Immediate Release"

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DEP has Issued an Air Quality Alert for Maine This Weekend

 
*AUGUSTA, July 26, 2025* — Ground-level particle pollution concentrations have reached the ‘Unhealthy’ level in the western half of Maine and ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ level in the Eastern Interior, Mid-Coast and Downeast  Coastal regions according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

Overnight, a plume of smoke from wildfires in Canada moved into Maine.  It came in much denser than anticipated and particle pollution levels are running in the Unhealthy range for these areas: all of Oxford, Franklin, Androscoggin & Kennebec counties, the southern 2/3 of Somerset County, inland York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc & Lincoln Counties and a narrow band of 1 to 2 towns wide along the coast from Kittery through Reid State Park. In addition, particle pollution levels are running in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range for these areas: Inland Knox, Waldo & Hancock Counties, the southern half of Penobscot and the middle portion of Washington County, a band of coastal towns 2-3 wide from Southport through Gouldsboro and a band of coastal towns 4 wide from Steuben through Eastport.

The smoke plume is expected to continue to move southward during the day and particle pollution levels are expected to decrease during the day, but smoke can be tough to clean out, so air quality will continue to be a health concern for the day especially in the western regions. 

On Sunday we are currently expecting the 24-hour average to be Moderate statewide.  However, some hours could be higher as that plume wraps around and moves back into Maine.  This will be a concern for Augusta’s Iron Man event.  If the forecast for Sunday changes when more information is available Saturday afternoon, a second press release will be issued.

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 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] ]