The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is continuing the Air Quality Alert for Friday July 17, and Saturday July 18. The alert is in effect due to elevated levels of fine particulates (PM2.5). Pollutants are expected to be in the Hazardous category for today for northern Michigan...and in the Very Unhealthy range on Saturday. The alert is in effect for the following northern Michigan counties: Emmet... Cheboygan...Presque Isle...Charlevoix...Leelanau...Antrim... Otsego... Montmorency...Alpena...Benzie...Grand Traverse...Kalkaska... Crawford...Oscoda...Alcona...Manistee...Wexford...Missaukee... Roscommon...Ogemaw...Iosco...Gladwin...Arenac...Chippewa...and Mackinac Plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to drift across northern Michigan. Elevated fine particulate due to the smoke will continue through Saturday. The threat of increased ozone may also come into play Saturday. Everyone should seek cleaner air indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities...especially those with heart disease and respiratory diseases such as asthma. Watch for symptoms including wheezing... coughing...chest tightness...dizziness...or burning in nose... throat...and eyes. Tips for households: Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors and, if possible, run central air conditioning with MERV-13 or higher rated filters. If you must be outdoors... wear an N95 or P100 respirator marked with "NIOSH" For up-to-date air quality data for Michigan, visit the MiAir site: https://michigan.gov/MiAir For up-to-date air quality data nationally, visit EPA's Air Now site: https://www.airnow.gov For further health information, please see MDHHS' Wildfire Smoke and Your Health site at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/safety-injury- prev/environmental-health/your-health-and-wildfire-smoke.