Pensacola, Fla. – The Florida Department of Health in Escambia County (FDOH-Escambia) is issuing an air quality health advisory in response to associated smoke from a brush fire at Rolling Hills Construction and Demolition Landfill. Air quality monitoring has been performed by the Escambia County Natural Resources Management Department near the facility, which is located at 6990 Rolling Hills Road, Pensacola, FL. The monitoring has revealed elevated levels of small particulate matter in the air likely associated with smoke from the fire. Nearby residents are advised to protect against smoke exposure.

Smoke is a respiratory irritant that can cause scratchy throat or irritated eyes and nose. According to the CDC, breathing in smoke can have immediate health effects, including coughing, difficulty breathing, scratchy throat, irritated eyes and nose, shortness of breath, and rapid heartbeat.

Persons experiencing respiratory symptoms, including those with severe or chronic respiratory conditions like asthma or chronic lung disease, should consult their doctor for treatment and stay inside their homes. While inside, residents should close windows, run their cooling or heating system, and change the system’s air filter as needed. If symptoms persist while inside an air conditioned home, residents may choose to leave the area until their symptoms are tolerable.

For questions related to health problems or symptoms you may be experiencing related to the smoke, please contact your doctor. For medical emergencies, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room. FDOH-Escambia will continue to monitor this situation. For more information, contact FDOH-Escambia’s Environmental Health office at 850-595-6700 or visit www.EscambiaHealth.com.

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