28-03-2025
Air quality alerts: Code Purple in Henderson, Transylvania; Code Red in Buncombe, others
As wildfires continue to burn around Western North Carolina, air quality remains a concern.
The smoke has made the air in Transylvania and Henderson counties very unhealthy. Both areas are under a Code Purple advisory on Friday, March 28.
Everyone should cut back on the time they spend outdoors Friday, especially people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and teens, according to the U.S. Air Quality Index. Avoid strenuous outdoor activities or keep physical activities short.
Additionally, Buncombe, Swain and Polk counties will have a Code Red air quality alert today, according to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. The air in these parts of WNC will be unhealthy. If you live in these counties, limit your time outdoors if possible.
Rutherford and Macon counties are under a code orange on Friday, March 28. The air there may be unhealthy for certain groups but will not affect the general public.
Counties in Western North and South Carolina under a Code Yellow air quality alert:
Burke County
Cleveland County
Graham County
Haywood County
Jackson County
McDowell County
Greenville-Spartanburg
Wildfires that have been burning since March 19 continue to spread through much of Western North Carolina, prompting evacuations in Polk and Henderson counties, as well as declarations of states of emergency in several counties.
The Table Rock fire in South Carolina is of particular concern as it creeps towards WNC. The fire is producing hefty amounts of smoke that may be harmful.
"If smoke continues to be produced at the same intensity as today, the risk of health effects is increased for everyone in these locations and appropriate actions to limit exposure should be taken," the North Carolina Division of Air Quality wrote in its Friday forecast discussion.
The air quality index is a scale used to measure how healthy the air is in a certain region. It has six categories, ranging from "good" to "hazardous." Air quality will be scored on a scale from zero to 300, with zero being a perfect score.
The trace of smoke in the air is unlikely to affect the general population. However, these are the most common symptoms.
Coughing
Scratchy throat
Irritated sinuses
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Headaches
Stinging eyes
Runny nose
See the latest wildfire updates on our interactive map.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Western NC wildfires: What's the air quality like in North Carolina?
