If you have been outside and smelled something burning, there's a reason for that. The Evansville Environmental Protection Agency has announced an Agricultural Open Burning Smoke Advisory for today (3/23).

According to the Director of the Evansville EPA , Jacob Keating,  the combination of agricultural field fires and high winds are impacting air quality in the Evansville area today. The fires are located in southwestern Vanderburgh County and across the river in Henderson County, Kentucky. The Evansville EPA responded to numerous complaints about smoke and reported the issues to the local Township fire departments and to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, as the location of these fires is outside of the EEPA’s jurisdiction.

If you see or smell smoke outside, it may not be a good time for outdoor activities, especially if you suffer from lung disease, such as asthma or COPD, or heart disease. Monitor children’s outdoor activity if they suffer from similar issues. Also, please refrain from open burning this evening, especially while winds are above 12 miles per hour (mph).

While particulate matter (PM) averages are not expected to rise above the 24-hour standard, please be aware that exposure to smoke plumes is possible today as burning continues.

More information on the health effects of smoke and what you can do about it can be found on the EEPA’s website at www.evansville.in.gov or at the USEPA’s webpage at http://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_events.

 

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