Air quality a concern in areas of Utah as smoke carries over from Canada wildfires
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Smoke carried over from the wildfires burning through western Canada has created hazy conditions in the Beehive State.
By 8 a.m. Saturday, weather officials reported that Salt Lake City had a "moderate" air quality index of 91, though portions of the state are forecasted to dip into the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" zone by Sunday.
Officials of the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said that they first started see smoke on their monitors in parts of northern and eastern Utah around noon Friday, adding that as the wildfires in Canada persist, they expect it to move southeast through the state.
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Residents of areas of the state with visible smoke or haze have been advised to avoid outdoor exertion and monitor their heart and lungs.
While Utah has just started seeing effects from these fires, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials previously reported that over 100 wildland fires had already broken out in western Canada by May 11.
