Local News
The statewide air quality alert is in effect through 12 a.m. Thursday.
The Boston John Hancock and Prudential buildings with a backdrop of a golden sky from Canadian fires on July 15, 2026. (David L Ryan/Globe Staff)
July 15, 2026 | 4:31 PM
1 minute to read
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality alert Wednesday for fine particles across the state due to wildfires that are burning in Canada.
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“Due to smoke from Canadian wildfires impacting the state, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has issued an air quality alert effective now through 12:00 a.m. on Thursday,” the alert, posted Wednesday at 9 a.m., read.
MassDEP said due to elevated levels of fine particles called PM2.5, air quality across the state is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups, including: people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors.
The agency advised people in sensitive groups to limit prolonged or heavy outdoor activities, take breaks if you are outside, follow asthma action plans, and watch for symptoms such as shortness of breath.
As of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, air quality was considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups” for most of the state, including for Boston, according to MassDEP’s MassAir data.
Boston Public Health Commission shared a similar message to its Instagram page. “We encourage children, older adults, and people with lung and heart disease to take steps to limit outdoor activity,” the post read.
Residents can check the latest air quality forecast via the MassDEP’s MassAir map.
Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.
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