KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A yellow air quality alert is in effect for East Tennessee and most of the Southeast as smoke from the British Columbia wildfires makes it way into the region.
Smoke from those severe wildfires burning in western Canada is being carried through the air into the region. That smoke is being tracked near the surface to the upper atmosphere, which is creating moderate levels of particle pollution.
The EPA and Tennessee Air Pollution Control Division are forecasting "yellow" air quality alerts Monday and Tuesday due to the smoke. Most people will not need to take precautions, but if you suffer from lung disease or are sensitive to smoke and particle pollution, you should reduce your activity and time outdoors until the smoke passes.
Severe wildfires engulfed parts of western Canada last week following a historic heat wave that created a "powder keg" of dry conditions. Nearly 200 active fires were burning as of July 5, according to the government of British Columbia.
The fires are so intense they are fueling massive "fire clouds" that are spawning lightning storms that are sparking out-of-control fires by kicking up burning embers and igniting new fires through lightning strikes.