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

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DEP Issues Extension of Air Quality Alert Until Sunday, July 27

 
*AUGUSTA, July 26, 2025* — Ground-level particle pollution concentrations are expected to reach the ‘Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups’ level according to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection on Sunday.

The plume of smoke that moved into Maine overnight Friday into Saturday is expected to wrap around and re-enter Maine on Sunday. Given the expected path and the movement of the densest portion of the plume, the forecast is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups for the Southwest Coastal, Western Interior, and Eastern Interior regions.  These regions cover the following areas: a narrow band the width of one to two towns along the coast from Kittery through Reid State Park; Inland York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, and Lincoln counties, and all of Androscoggin and Kennebec counties; Inland Knox, Waldo and Hancock counties, the southern half of Penobscot, and the middle portion of Washington County.  The less dense portions of the plume also will impact other areas of Maine to a lesser extent so the forecast for the remainder of the state is Moderate.

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] ]