FORT PIERRE, (KCCR) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires is prompting the South Dakota Departments of Health and Environment and Natural Resources to issue an Air Quality Alert through at least Tuesday. A press release announcing the alert says for areas of South Dakota where smoke from wildfires is forecast to settle, however the release doesn’t indicate where those areas maybe. There are 10 monitoring stations in South Dakota. One is in Pierre, two are near Rapid City with others located at Wind Cave National Park, Aberdeen, Watertown, Brookings, Sioux Falls, Yankton and Badlands National Park near Interior. Pierre at midday Monday was at a moderate level 66. The worst was Brookings at 155 which is on the low end of the unhealthy category. Watertown at 143 and Wind Cave at 117 were in the unhealthy for sensitive groups category. Elderly citizens, young children, and individuals with respiratory problems are the most susceptible to the smoke. Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases like asthma and COPD. People with these conditions may experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue.
