Gary, Indiana – Anyone planning to work, exercise or attend outdoor events across northwest Indiana should check air quality conditions before heading outside, as wildfire smoke and elevated ozone are expected to keep pollution levels high through Monday night. The prolonged event could affect breathing for people with asthma, heart disease, children and older adults.
According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, an Air Quality Action Day remains in effect until midnight Monday night for Lake, Porter, Newton and Jasper counties. Communities including Gary, Hammond, Merrillville, Portage, Valparaiso, Chesterton, Rensselaer and Kentland are included in the alert. Officials expect a combination of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke and elevated ozone to push air quality into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category.
People in sensitive groups should limit prolonged outdoor activity, especially strenuous exercise or physically demanding work. IDEM also recommends avoiding unnecessary exposure to wildfire smoke, reducing heavy exertion outdoors and keeping windows and doors closed whenever possible to reduce indoor smoke infiltration.
Even residents without underlying health conditions may notice hazy skies or smoke odors at times. Checking current air quality conditions before spending extended time outside is encouraged, as pollution levels can fluctuate throughout the day.
Residents can monitor real-time conditions and additional health guidance through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s SmogWatch page. Additional air quality advisories may be issued if smoke concentrations persist into early next week.
