Ongoing Canada wildfires are causing lowered air quality in Lexington County.

The state Department of Health and Environmental Control posted an air quality alert for fine particulates for the northern half of the state, including Lexington County, which will remain in effect through July 18.

The county posted to Facebook that South Carolina residents face potential health risks and effects from Canadian wildfires, saying that DHEC recommends individuals with respiratory health issues to limit time outdoors.

“Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.” the post reads.

DHEC notes that the most significant smoke and highest fine particulate concentrations have been observed in the northern region of the state, adding that all regions of the state can experience health and visibility impacts from the smoke. The smoke can irritate eyes and respiratory systems and aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases.

For months, the U.S. has been affected by the wildfires in Canada, with air quality especially particularly impacted in the Northeast. The fires across Canada started late April and have already burned 25.2 million acres of land.

Air quality warnings have been triggered across the country this week as smoke from the Canadian blazes has again started to blow over wide swathes of the U.C.

Though this is the first alert from the county, the state has seen lower air quality since early June.