A rare “Code Red” air quality alert will be in effect on Tuesday for Jefferson and Shelby counties.

Unlike most air quality alerts, this one is caused by smoke, not ozone.

The Jefferson County Department of Health issued the alert and said fine particle air pollution will be high enough today to potentially cause problems for those with heart or lung conditions, older adults and children.

Those groups are recommended to avoid all physical activity outdoors through the morning hours.

The rest of the general public in the Birmingham metro area is advised to avoid working hard outside for long periods until the smoke clears.

The advisory states people in the two counties should also:

• Avoid exposure to wood, forest, or agricultural smoke.
• Reduce outside activity. Walk instead of jog. Do not exercise nearbusy roads.
• Plan outdoor activities for days when particle levels are lower.
• Limit driving and engine idling. Combine errands. Use the bus or carpool to work.
• Avoid use of gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment.
• Keep windows and doors closed to prevent further circulation of particles. Eliminate tobacco smoke, limit cooking with wood, coal, oil, or natural gas, and limit the use of candles, incense, and household cleaners.

A forecast from Airnow.gov said smoke from a large prescribed burn northwest of Birmingham moved into the metro area on Monday and is expected to linger into the morning hours today.

Smoke concentrations were expected to be an issue until the mid-morning hours.

According to the Forest Service, a prescribed burn had been planned on Monday for about 780 acres east of Pebble near the Wolfpen Hunter Camp in the Bankhead National Forest, which is northwest of the Birmingham metro area.