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Smoke leads to activity warning in Hill County

2:45 p.m.: Montana Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert for residents in Blaine, Glacier, Hill, Liberty and Toole counties until Tuesday at 9 a.m. due to smoke from the Copper King Fire near Thompson Falls.

In a statement, Montana DEQ said that the air quality near Havre was "unhealthy." Therefore they warned that children, the elderly and those with heart or respiratory conditions should avoid outdoor physical activity. Others should limit such activity.

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The Hill County Health Department has advised those in the region to stay inside and avoid activity outdoors today, due to the presence of heavy smoke in the air.

Kim Larson, public health director for the county, and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality said the smoke comes from several wildfires burning in western Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming.

Larson said in a post on the Hill County Health Department Facebook page, that the increase in wildfire activity and the stable atmosphere, sending the smoke to the ground level.

Kristen Martin of Montana's Department of Environmental Quality said officials are hopeful that the winds will shift and the thick smoke is expected to abate by Tuesday.

Hill County Health Department said they will post updates on their Facebook page as they become available.

 

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