Wildfire smoke descends on area

SANDUSKY — The scenes were like something out of a Stephen King horror movie adaptation. Smoke caused by wildfires in Minnesota and Canada blanketed north-central Ohio and much of the Midwest and East Coast on Thursday, creating hazardous conditions for all and especially those with respiratory and heart health issues. Public health agencies advised people to limit their time spent outdoors as much as possible. "If you are just waking up, you haven't been transported to Mars," 13abc meteorologist Ross Ellet quipped in a post online Thursday morning. In the Sandusky area, the haze severely reduced visibility, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke, making it difficult to breathe outdoors. Many local public health agencies put out public health warnings, and safety concerns prompted the cancellation of local public gatherings, such as Sandusky's Thursday evening Party at the Pier concert. Ellet said that the smoke caused historically bad air quality in the Toledo area, even making the air more hazardous than in the infamously polluted city of New Delhi, India. A look at a government air quality tracker late Thursday showed Sandusky had a "hazardous" air quality index of 775, even maxing out the website's meter gauging air quality. "Everyone should stay indoors and reduce activity levels," the tracker on AirNow.gov states. Air quality readings for other local areas late Thursday included: • Norwalk, at 280, described as "very unhealthy" • Bellevue, at 661, described as "hazardous" • Fremont, at 661, described as "hazardous" • Port Clinton, at 775, described as "hazardous" • Vermilion, at 476, described as "hazardous" Will it continue? It wasn't immediately clear how long the smoke and dangerous air quality would linger. Ellet shared predictions on what could occur over the next few days: Many of you are asking when it gets better. Hazardous air is expected till noon (Friday) (301-plus on the air quality index). Unhealthy to very unhealthy air tomorrow afternoon and evening (151-300). Unhealthy for some (101-150) Friday night. Saturday looks normal or moderate (air quality index, 51-100). I am concerned smoke will return Saturday night and Sunday. If these fires continue, then mid-next week may be an issue, too. It is impossible to say how bad it will be. We know the winds will be favorable to bring in smoke, but we don't know the status of the fires between now and then. Those in the area, in the meantime, should be extremely cautious and limit time outdoors. "Individuals with asthma, COPD, heart disease, other respiratory conditions, older adults, young children, pregnant people, those who work outside and anyone who is sensitive to poor air quality are strongly encouraged to take extra precautions," the Huron County Emergency Management Agency said. According to the agency, those precautions include the following: • Stay indoors as much as possible and keep windows and doors closed • Limit outdoor activities and avoid strenuous exercise • If you must be outdoors, consider wearing a properly fitted N95 respirator • Keep rescue inhalers and other prescribed medications readily available • Monitor for symptoms such as increased shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent coughing or chest pain Huron County Public Health said it was adding N95 face masks to its harm reduction vending machine outside its 28 Executive Drive office in Norwalk. "These are free and available 24/7," the agency posted online. Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this story.