Fort Wayne, Ind. – Smoke drifting south from Canadian wildfires will blanket northern Indiana on Thursday, triggering an air quality alert across more than two dozen counties, including Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Elkhart.
According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, PM2.5 levels—tiny, harmful particles in the air—are expected to reach the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” range on June 5. The Air Quality Action Day applies to Allen, St. Joseph, LaPorte, Kosciusko, and neighboring counties from midnight to midnight Thursday.
Children, seniors, and anyone with asthma or other respiratory conditions are urged to limit prolonged outdoor activity. Cities like Warsaw, Marion, and Huntington may see hazy skies and breathing discomfort during outdoor work or exercise.
Health officials recommend turning off car engines when idling, postponing lawn work and refueling until after 7 p.m., and setting thermostats above 75°F to reduce emissions.
Though not the first alert this season, Thursday’s warning highlights the ongoing impact of wildfire smoke on Midwest air quality.
The alert remains in effect until midnight Thursday, and conditions could prompt additional advisories later this week.