- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Media Contact
Fabienne Alexis, Public Affairs Assistant Director / MassDEP
WHEN: Effective now through 12:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2026
WHERE: Statewide
WHAT: 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. Due to elevated levels of fine particles (PM2.5), air quality statewide is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease, such as asthma, older adults, children, teenagers, and people who are active outdoors. People with either lung disease or heart disease are at greater risk from exposure to air pollution.
MassDEP advises people in sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion, take more breaks, do less intense activities, follow asthma action plans, and keep quick relief medicine handy. Watch for symptoms such as coughing or shortness of breath.
More details are available, including forecasts and real-time data, at MassDEP’s MassAir Online site.
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