The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an initial air quality alert July 31, scheduling it to end 24 hours later on Aug. 1.
But here we are, four days later, and the DNR has re-extended the statewide alert for the fifth time as the Canadian wildfire smoke continues to permeate the Wisconsin air. It is now scheduled to end Aug. 5 at noon, which will mark the 22nd day in 2025 that Wisconsin air quality has been impacted by wildfire smoke — the same number of days as in all of 2023.
Milwaukee's Air Quality Index score was 157 — classified as "Unhealthy" — at the time the extension was announced. At that level, the general public may begin to experience health effects. The rest of the state is in between the "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and "Unhealthy" levels.
As of 11 a.m., seven of the 10 places with the worst air quality in the country are Wisconsin counties, according to AirNow, a government agency that tracks Air Quality Indices.
Waukesha and Jefferson Counties are second in the United States with a score of 158, behind only Bozeman, Montana. Milwaukee and southern Ozaukee County sit at No. 3 (157), followed by Vlias and Forest (157), Outagamie and Brown (156) and Dane, Columbia and Sauk Counties (154). Northern Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties (153) and Dodge and Fon du Lac (152) are eighth and ninth, respectively.
As a precaution, the National Weather Service is advising people in sensitive groups — including children, older adults and people with lung or heart conditions like asthma — to avoid being outside. Other protective measures include keeping doors and windows closed and avoiding activities that increase indoor pollution, such as vacuuming, burning candles or using gas appliances.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin air quality advisory from wildfire smoke re-extended
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