Air quality officials are expanding their advisory for air pollution in North Carolina as smoke from numerous wildfires continues to cover much of the state. Residents in the mountains, foothills and Piedmont regions could experience unhealthy air quality, depending on wind direction.

Governor Pat McCrory announced that the state is offering a reward of up to $10,000 to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting wildfires in western North Carolina.

Many of the wildfires throughout the region are believed to have been man-made.

About 15 wildfires covering more than 46,000 acres of land are burning in Western North Carolina and smoke from those fires can contain high levels of air pollution.  Residents throughout the area could be exposed to Code Red (unhealthy) or Code Orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) levels of particle pollution.

The N.C. Division of Air Quality issues daily air forecasts for the Triangle, Charlotte, Asheville, Hickory, Fayetteville and Rocky Mount metropolitan areas. For more information, visit.ncair.org or facebook.com/NCAQFC/. More information about particular wildfires can be found at: inciweb.nwcg.gov/state/34/0/.

– article submitted by Tom Mather