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Haze from the wildfires in late June obscured the Indianapolis skyline. The state will experience a combination of ozone pollution, or smog, and smoke from wildfires on Thursday.
Ben Thorp/WFYISmoke from Canadian wildfires and pollution has triggered a statewide air quality action day in Indiana for Thursday and Friday. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management recently extended the alert.
The agency said the hot weather and pollution from things like cars and factories have created more ground-level ozone. That — and the smoke — can make the air difficult to breathe and cause coughing.
This means children, older adults and anyone with a heart or lung condition should avoid strenuous work or outside exercise. People can help reduce ground-level ozone by walking, biking or working from home.
READ MORE: Why it's hard to forecast wildfire smoke
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If you do have to drive your car, IDEM said to make fewer trips and turn off your engine if you’re idling for more than 30 seconds. You can also set your thermostat to higher than 75 degrees.
This story has been updated.
Rebecca is our energy and environment reporter. Contact her at rthiele@iu.edu or follow her on Twitter at @beckythiele.
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