How to protect yourself while South Georgia wildfire smoke hits Macon
Smoke drifting north from wildfires burning across South Georgia pushed air quality in Macon into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” range Wednesday, according to state monitoring data, as officials urged residents to take precautions and monitor conditions.
As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the Air Quality Index near Macon registered 117 and Warner Robins 111, according to AirGeorgia.org, levels that can pose health risks for people with respiratory conditions, older adults and children.
In Macon, the Fire Department said it is actively monitoring the situation in coordination with the National Weather Service and the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency.
“The advisories and warnings are initiated by the State of Georgia, and we are currently in a burn ban per the Georgia Forestry Commission,” Macon-Bibb County Deputy Fire Chief Ronald Smith said in a statement shared by county chief communications officer Chris Floore. “The Fire Department and partners will continue to monitor local conditions, and they will be sharing information and advisories as they are announced.”
Smith encouraged residents to monitor conditions and take steps to protect their health.
The smoke is a byproduct of an ongoing wildfire crisis driven by an extreme drought gripping the state. About 98% of Georgia’s land area is in moderate to exceptional drought conditions, according to the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the number of wildfires statewide in April has risen above the five-year average.
In response, State Forester Johnny Sabo issued a mandatory burn ban covering 91 counties in the lower half of the state, the first such ban in the agency’s history. The affected area runs from Harris County in the west to Columbia County in the east and south to the Florida line. It includes a wide swath of Middle Georgia counties, including Bibb, Houston, Twiggs, Peach and Crawford.
The ban prohibits outdoor burning of all kinds, including prescribed burns and yard debris, and will remain in effect for 30 days unless extended.
“GFC’s wildland firefighters are responding daily to a near-record number of wildfires,” Sabo said. “It’s critical to remember that just one spark or ember can ignite a life-threatening wildfire.”
What you can do
Residents can take several steps to protect themselves during smoke events, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its AirNow program.
Stay indoors when possible and keep windows and doors closed. If you have air conditioning, use it to help keep indoor air clean.
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. The EPA advises limiting outdoor exercise when conditions are smoky or choosing lower-intensity activities to reduce smoke exposure.
Wear an N95 mask if you must go outside. The agency says an N95 respirator can help reduce the amount of smoke you breathe in, while standard cloth or surgical masks offer limited protection against fine smoke particles.
Sensitive groups should take extra care. The EPA says people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, teenagers and pregnant women face greater health risks from wildfire smoke, even at lower exposure levels. Those with chronic conditions are encouraged to consult a doctor about precautions.
Residents should also avoid burning indoors. AirNow advises against using wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves or candles when smoke levels are elevated, as those can further degrade indoor air quality.
Residents can track conditions at AirGeorgia.org or AirNow.gov, both of which provide real-time AQI readings.
No rain is expected in the coming days across most of the affected area, meaning conditions are unlikely to improve soon. Officials said they will continue to share updates as the situation develops.
