There are 19 SC counties under an air quality alert. Here’s where, why and for how long

Much of the Midlands are under an air quality alert today mainly because of controlled burning, the state health department says.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control issued an air quality alert for 19 counties Thursday morning that is set to last until midnight. An air quality alert means that fine particulate concentrations within the specified counties may approach or exceed unhealthy standards for people sensitive to particulate pollution, the DHEC states.

“The smoke/particulate matter concentrations are likely due to numerous prescribed burns across the region,” the DHEC statement reads on the National Weather Service website.

According to the South Carolina Forestry Commission website, there are multiple controlled burns within Richland County alone as of Thursday afternoon, which you can view here.

There is also an active wildfire in the Fairfield area, according to the commission.

Some Richland County schools have already begun to limit outdoor activities for the day.

SC counties under air quality alert

1. Calhoun

2. Fairfield

3. Kershaw

4. Lexington

5. Newberry

6. Orangeburg

7. Richland

8. Saluda

9. Sumter

10. Aiken

11. Barnwell

12. Edgefield

13. McCormick

14. Chesterfield

15. Darlington

16. Dillon

17. Florence

18. Lee

19. Marlboro

What to do

DHEC recommends that people with respiratory health issues limit time spent outdoors and or move all activities indoors to avoid the smoke or fine particulates. Keep your windows and doors closed. Run

an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke and fine particulates from getting inside.