Smoke from wildfires causing unhealthy air quality (update: more smoke today)

Image by Flickr user vladdythephotogeek

Update July 1: The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement for today stating that, "Smoke from distant wildfires in North Carolina will impact parts of the coastal counties this morning into early this afternoon."

The smoke over the Atlantic waters will begin to move onshore as winds become Northeast and East this morning and will bring visibility down to 3 to 5 miles.

First reporting: The state Department of Health and Environmental Control issued a warning yesterday that smoke from nearby wildfires is causing air quality issues across the Lowcountry.

A mixture of gases and fine particles from burning trees and other plants from wildfires in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia have reached the Lowcountry and have bumped the local air quality rating to 154. Mind you, healthy levels range between 0-50.

DHEC has an entire page providing general information on wildfires and health as well as tips on how to best protect your lungs from wildfire smoke. You'll find it all right here.

To see just how bad the smoke coverage in the Lowcountry has become, take a peek at the raw footage Live 5 News has posted on their site.

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