
Air quality alert issued for Chicago through Wednesday night due to wildfire smoke
According to AirNow, Chicago is under "moderate" air quality.
Residents are advised to take precautions, especially those sensitive to polluted conditions, by limiting their time outside and keeping windows and doors closed.
Groups most sensitive to the air quality include babies, children, and elderly people.
During this time, Chicago residents are also urged to reduce pollution levels. You can find tips for lowering pollution levels here.
On July 31, Canadian wildfire smoke brought the worst air quality in the world to Chicago. According to IQAir, Chicago's air quality index on July 31 was, for a time, standing at 174, the worst of any major city in the world.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Where is all the wildfire smoke in the Denver metro area coming from?
Several rounds of wildfire smoke have been moving into Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and communities up and down the I-25 corridor this week. Most of the smoke is coming from three active wildfires on Colorado's Western Slope: the Lee Fire, Elk Fire and Turner Gulch Fire. Starting early Tuesday evening, residents in the Denver metro area may have noticed that the smoke overhead appeared thicker. This was a direct result of increased fire behavior earlier Tuesday afternoon on the Western Slope. Another noticeably thick round of wildfire smoke, coming from the same fires, is anticipated to arrive Wednesday night. With winds blowing out of the west, smoke from these fires is carried into the atmosphere and funneled to the I-25 corridor. This results in smoke arriving in waves. As fire activity increases, so does the size and density of the smoke plume. During calmer periods, when winds weaken, less smoke is transported along the Front Range, leading to temporary improvements in air quality. The Elk Fire was listed at over 7,000 acres on Tuesday and the Lee Fire has burned more than 13,000 acres. Both are close to the town of Meeker. The Turner Gulch Fire, not far from the town of Gateway, is 49% contained and has burned more than 22,000 acres.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Gifford Fire burns 80,000 acres, causes mandatory evacuations. See wildfire maps.
The Gifford Fire in Southern California has consumed over 80,000 acres and forced parts of two counties to be evacuated. The fire, located on Highway 166 northwest of Santa Maria, California, was burning on both sides of the highway, with more active spread on the south side of the road, according to Cal Fire. As of Tuesday morning, Aug. 5, the fire had consumed 82,567 acres in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, around 200 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The blaze was 7% contained, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Gifford wildfire map Which areas are being evacuated? People under evacuation warnings face an "immediate threat to life," Cal Fire stated on its website: "This is a lawful order to LEAVE NOW." Areas under evacuation orders are also closed to public access. The map below shows areas under evacuation orders (red) and evacuation warnings (yellow), as of 11:20 a.m. PT, Aug. 5. To view the interactive version of the map, click here. The following areas in San Luis Obispo County are under mandatory evacuation orders, according to Cal Fire. To find your evacuation zone, click here. LPF-014 LPF-015 LPF-016 LPF-017 LPF-018 LPF-019 SLC-335 SLC-336 SLC-337 Areas in Santa Barbara County under mandatory evacuation orders are listed below. You can also search your address in this interactive map. LPF-165 SBC-159-A SBC-161-A SBC-163 SBC-167 SBC-169-A SBC-169-B Which areas are under evacuation warning? Areas that are under an evacuation warning face a "potential threat to life and/or property," Cal Fire stated on its website. "Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock, should leave now." The following areas are under evacuation warnings in San Luis Obispo County, according to Cal Fire. To find your evacuation zone, click here. SLC-225 SLC-239 SLC-240 SLC-262 SLC-264 SLC-297 SLC-298 SLC-311 SLC-312 SLC-334 LPF-011 LPF-013 Areas under evacuation warning in Santa Barbara County are listed below. You can also search your address in this interactive map. SBC-159-B SBC-161-B SBC-172 Air quality of California As the Canadian wildfires impact air quality in the central and eastern parts of the country, Southern California and parts of Arizona face similar issues as wildfires burn across the region. As of 1:25 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Aug. 5, areas near San Diego have been deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups," according to AirNow. People with pre-existing medical conditions, like asthma, will be more sensitive to conditions that are deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups." "Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects," according to AirNow. Air quality in surrounding areas, from Los Angeles to Phoenix, has been deemed "moderate," which is acceptable, but poses "a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution." Evacuation shelters for those affected by the Gifford Fire Anyone looking for assistance in sheltering can call the American Red Cross at 805-678-3073. For a list of more shelters evacuating large, small and domestic animals, visit Cal Fire's website for more information. Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gifford Fire maps show where evacuation orders, wildfires are active
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hiker in critical condition after being rescued from Camelback Mountain
The Brief A man is in critical condition after suffering a fall and heat-related issues while hiking Camelback Mountain on Aug. 5. The Phoenix Fire Department says crews used a "big wheel" stretcher to rescue the man from the Cholla Trailhead. PHOENIX - A hiker is in critical condition after being rescued from Camelback Mountain on Tuesday. What we know The Phoenix Fire Department says crews responded to the Cholla Trailhead on Aug. 5 at around 11 a.m. for reports of a hiker who suffered a ground-level fall and was experiencing "heat-related issues." Crews were able to find the injured hiker and began treating him. "Active cooling measures with the ice immersion bag were used to help cool the hiker," firefighters said. The injured hiker was carried down the mountain using a "big wheel" stretcher. The hiker was then transported to a hospital in critical condition. No firefighters were injured during the rescue. What we don't know The hiker wasn't identified. Dig deeper According to the city of Phoenix, on days when an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect, the following trails are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Camelback Mountain Preserve: Echo Canyon and Cholla Trail. Phoenix Mountains Preserve: The Piestewa Peak Summit trail and associated trails. South Mountain Park and Preserve: Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau'pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead. Map of the Cholla Trailhead on Camelback Mountain Solve the daily Crossword