Asheville, NC – Residents across western North Carolina are being urged to limit outdoor activity Friday evening as dangerous levels of fine particulate matter continue to build in the region’s air.
According to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Code Purple and Code Red Air Quality Alerts are in effect until midnight for Henderson, Transylvania, Buncombe, McDowell, Swain, Polk, and Rutherford counties. Code Purple levels indicate very unhealthy air, particularly for sensitive groups, including children, seniors, and those with respiratory conditions.
The alerts are tied to stagnant air and smoke from nearby wildfires in neighboring South Carolina. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge wildfires are producing smoke that has drifted across the state line, particularly impacting the Asheville-Hendersonville corridor. The affected areas include cities such as Brevard, Marion, Spindale, Waynesville, and Franklin.
Health officials recommend staying indoors, closing windows and doors, and using air conditioning with clean filters. Outdoor exercise should be postponed, and those with asthma or other respiratory issues should follow treatment plans closely.
Conditions are expected to improve by Saturday as winds shift and dispersion increases. Real-time updates are available at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu and https://fire.airnow.gov.
