The National Weather Service has issued an Air Quality Alert for Ridgefield.
AirNow reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), a color-coded index designed to communicate whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy for you. Ridgefield is currently in the “red” according to the AQI.
The Town of Ridgefield just put out a town-wide alert saying:
State health and emergency management offices tracking a huge, dense area of wildfire smoke moving south toward us from northern NY. Air quality is expected to be very poor as this smoke moves into our area this afternoon and stays with us until late Thursday afternoon. Schools and industry are advised to implement air quality protocols. Residents are advised to avoid extended periods outside.
See guidance for today's air quality from AirNow:
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
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Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
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Keep outdoor activities short.
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Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.
Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:
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Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
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Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
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Be active outdoors when air quality is better.
In a note to the school community, Superintendent Susie Da Silva said, “The air quality in the Ridgefield area was expected to improve this morning, but unfortunately, our area continues to be in the red, meaning that we should avoid outdoor activities if possible.”
As a result of today’s AQI, Da Silva said that outdoor activities planned for today will be canceled or rescheduled. “While the air quality index remains in the red in the Ridgefield area, we will not hold outdoor activities.”