NEWINGTON - Connecticut residents have received air quality alerts, representing red and orange zones across the state.

       According to CT.gov, orange zones display unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, and red zones show unhealthy air quality for everyone.

       Central Connecticut Health District Director of Health Charles Brown said Canada’s wildfires affect Connecticut’s air quality.

       “As the afternoons go on, it is expected for the smoke to get worse,” Brown said. “It is recommended for people who have breathing issues to avoid going outside if they don’t have to.”

       Brown advised people not to engage in strenuous outdoor activities to avoid inhaling smoke particles. He also said shelters are not open for this issue, but town libraries welcome all citizens.

       “We’ve had a few from different schools asking about the potential for recess, and we’ve told them that it may be an inside recess for children with breathing issues,” Brown said.

       According to Brown, Canada’s wildfires produce smoke affecting the Northeast. He also said this had been the longest duration of poor air quality in Connecticut.

       “It’s something that I think in the future we could potentially deal with much more often, just because of climate change and things of that nature,” he said. “People need to be proactive, so if they go outside and have trouble breathing, they should go inside and take a break.”

       Newington resident Allie Calderone said she had noticed a change in the environment.

       "I stepped outside, and it smelled like burning rubber,” Calderone said. “It was definitely a shock because I’ve never experienced something like this before.”

       Calderone said Connecticut shelters should open for people who remain outdoors and do not have housing.

       “Many people are immunocompromised and definitely suffering,” she said. “It’s horrible, and the sky looks extremely hazy.”

       According to Calderone, spending time outside recently had made her ill.

       “I had a huge headache all day, and my throat and mouth were extremely itchy,” she said.

       Wethersfield Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Anthony Dignoti described Connecticut skies as ominous due to air quality conditions.

       “The large fires in Canada were burning out of control, and the smoke has traveled to different states,” Dignoti said. “The wind conditions are making the smoke move through the atmosphere.”

       Dignoti said he has never seen a severe air quality issue in Connecticut.

       “We’ve had fires that would cover a small area of town or around us, but I’ve never seen anything like this in all my years,” he said. “This is kind of an unusual thing.”

       According to Dignoti, the smoke is blocking the sun from coming out in its complete form. He also said it is impossible to stop this natural condition.

       “The fires are far enough away from us that it’s not a fire danger,” he said. “We’re just dealing with the byproducts of smoke that are lingering in the atmosphere.”

       For more information on Connecticut’s air quality, visit https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Air/Forecasting/AQI/Air-Quality-Index.