Stamford Residents Urged To Remain Indoors Due To Poor Air Quality

STAMFORD, CT — As smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to blanket the Northeast region, Stamford officials are urging residents to remain indoors.

The city of Stamford, Stamford Department of Health, and the Connecticut Department of Health recommend all residents avoid all outdoor activities and exposure Wednesday and remain indoors, especially residents with asthma or heart and lung conditions.

All after-school and recreational activities were canceled Wednesday, and school fields remain closed. The National Weather Service has extended its Air Quality Alert until 12 a.m. Friday, June 9.

The CT Department of Health advises residents to keep all windows and doors closed to keep smoke outdoors.

"The health effects for some people may include chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, eye irritation, chest pain, dizziness or lightheadedness, and other symptoms," said DPH Commissioner Dr. Manisha Juthani. "We recommend that you avoid any outdoor exercise today if you have an underlying health condition. Be sure to have your medications readily available and seek medical attention if these issues worsen."

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT-DEEP) monitors the state’s air quality and posts air quality forecasts each day on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Residents can subscribe to the Air Quality Index here.