Pall over the Triangle

Smoke from big fire in east puts a chokehold on outdoor activity

A thick haze of smoke from wildfires in the state's rural east will continue to blanket the Triangle today, causing dangerous levels of air pollution.

State air quality officials on Thursday recorded the highest levels of so-called fine-particle pollution ever seen in Raleigh. They predicted Code Red conditions today as well.

Weather forecasters say smoke could keep Triangle residents sequestered in their homes for much of Saturday, too.

"Once the smoke is here and it's this thick, it's going to take some time to blow it out," said National Weather Service forecaster Jeff Orrock.

On Thursday, the smoke caused a host of annoyances, from blaring smoke alarms to a raft of 911 calls from concerned residents. In Wake County, emergency dispatchers got more than 300 calls about smoke.

Is the smoke bad for you? Yes. State air quality officials say it's even worse than ozone, because the fine particles in smoke can get deep into the lungs and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure can cause heart and lung diseases.

What's in it? That gray haze is not just burned trees. It contains many harmful chemicals, some generated by the fire and others formed by reactions in the atmosphere. Exposure can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath.

Where is it coming from? This acrid haze has traveled 150 miles. A blaze in the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, in a sparsely populated area of Eastern North Carolina, has burned nearly 40,000 acres since June 1 and is the largest active wildfire in the country. A lightning strike started the fire.

Who should stay inside? The state recommends that children, the elderly, people with respiratory conditions and people who work outdoors should avoid even moderate exertion outside. Others should avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

What if it gets in the house? If you have air conditioning, the smoke in your house has been processed and is less harmful than the smoke outside. State officials say pollution levels aren't high enough to be concerned about dangerous air inside homes.

What if I have to be outside? Walking to your car is fine. Even moderate exertion will probably be OK for most people. Just don't go for a run. If you must do strenuous work outdoors, a mask will help.

How can I escape the smoke? Go to the mountains. There are no air pollution warnings west of the Triad.

When will this end? As long as the easterly winds stay, the smoke stays. Forecasters say that winds are expected to shift Saturday and that a cold front Sunday will completely clear the air. But the fires continue to burn, so the smoke could return.