Canadian wildfire smoke causing haze in county
Ashtabula County skies have seen hazy conditions, as smoke from the ongoing Canadian wildfires has blown across the midwest.
Ashtabula County Health Department Director of Environmental Health Randall Barnes said the pollution is moderately bad right now.
'Thankfully, it's not really bad here right now,' he said.
Barnes said the smoke had mainly caused increases in particle air pollution.
Barnes recommended seniors, children, people with asthma, or lung and heart conditions, and other people particularly sensitive to particle pollution limit their time outside, he said.
'Consider taking it a little bit easier,' he said.
N-95 masks would also be helpful when going outside, filtering out particle pollution, Barnes said.
Barnes said people should make sure they have proper air filters installed, and that more technologically sophisticated air filters would also help.
Barnes encouraged outdoor workers to take breaks when possible to avoid too much exposure, he said.
AirNow recommends people stay safe when doing outdoor actives so they limit their exposure.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency's website, particle pollution can affect the health of a person's lungs or heart, and cause premature death, aggravated asthma, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, decreased lung function and coughing.
Barnes said county residents can learn more about current air quality on AirNow.gov, where people can enter their zip code and see current air quality, alongside forecasts for the next day.
'I would like to encourage people to be aware,' he said.
AirNow, as of Thursday, lists particle pollution for the Ashtabula area as having a moderate amount of particle pollution.
Barnes said the last time wildfire smoke drifted over the region in 2023 certainly seemed worse.
According to the American Lung Association's 2025 State of the Air Report, the 2023 Canadian Wildfires 'drove levels of ozone and particle pollution in dozens of central and eastern states higher than they have been in many years.'
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