Municipal Offices Closed In South Brunswick Thursday Due To Poor Air

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - All municipal offices, including the public library and recreation center, will be closed on Thursday due to poor air quality as a result of the Canadian Wildfires, township officials said.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a code orange air quality alert Thursday.

Residents have been advised to limit their time outside and avoid any exertion outdoors.
Here’s a list of offices that are closed:

• Township Municipal Building
• South Brunswick Municipal Court
• South Brunswick Senior Center
• South Brunswick Recreation Center’
• South Brunswick Library

The South Brunswick Office of Emergency Management said it will continue to monitor the ongoing situation. “Preliminary indications are that weather conditions will improve on Friday which will allow the smoke to clear our area,” the OEM said.

On Thursday morning, the air quality in South Brunswick hit the "very unhealthy" level on the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI).

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), showed that the Township had a particulate matter level of 244 around 8 a.m. Thursday. A level of 300 is deemed “hazardous.”

The air is unhealthy for sensitive groups - children, teens, seniors, and those with heart or lung conditions. They are advised to avoid strenuous activity outside. People with sensitivities to air pollution should take extra care, officials said.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com