For Immediate Release

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
• USEPA's asthma control and management
• AIRNOW for smoke impacted areas

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

For more information go to Maine DEP’s air quality web site.