Aiken, SC – An Air Quality Alert has been issued for parts of South Carolina and Georgia for Wednesday, February 26, due to fine particulate pollution from controlled burns in the region.
According to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services, the affected areas include Aiken, Barnwell, Edgefield, and McCormick counties in South Carolina, as well as Columbia and Richmond counties in Georgia. The alert is classified as Code Orange, meaning air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
High pressure over the southeastern U.S. is expected to keep smoke from prescribed burns trapped close to the ground, especially in the overnight and early morning hours. With minimal wind to disperse the smoke, fine particulate levels could rise to unhealthy levels.
Residents in the affected areas are advised to limit outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory concerns. Keeping windows and doors closed, running air conditioners with clean filters, and avoiding exposure to outdoor air during peak smoke conditions are recommended.
For more information on air quality conditions, visit https://fire.airnow.gov. To learn more about controlled burns, visit the South Carolina Forestry Commission website at https://www.scfc.gov.
