As fire crews begin to get a handle on the brush fires in Southwest Florida, the air quality is quickly improving. Thursday, a web site overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency, called AirNow.gov, showed unhealthy air quality for parts of the area. Then on Friday, the air quality was listed as "good."
"The smoke can shift at any point," said Andrea McKinney of the Department of Health in Collier County.
She said it's when the smoke finds you that trouble can set in.
"That's where you're going to find more of those fine particles that will get deep into your lungs and cause health issues," she said.
Smoke from wildfires is especially harmful to people with existing respiratory problems, but can affect anyone and irritate the throat, eyes and lungs. McKinney said that dust masks and bandannas worn over the nose and mouth aren't enough protection in heavy smoke.
"A mask, in order for it to work, needs to be able to filter out very fine particles, as well as create an airtight seal around the wearer's face," she said.
If wildfire smoke is in the area around your home, McKinney said to try to keep the air inside as clean as possible, and avoid vacuuming, burning candles, and smoking.
