DETROIT (7-16-26) — As Canadian wildfire smoke continues to drift across Michigan, the Office of the Detroit Ombudsman has temporarily transitioned to remote operations, citing employee safety and the ongoing public health risks associated with deteriorating air quality.

The office announced Thursday that staff would work remotely for 48 hours while air quality conditions remain under close observation. Although the physical office is temporarily closed, Ombudsman services continue without interruption as employees respond to constituent concerns, process complaints, and provide assistance remotely.

The announcement comes as environmental officials continue monitoring smoke from wildfires burning across northern Ontario. Depending on changing weather patterns and wind direction, smoke conditions could continue affecting southeast Michigan through Friday and potentially into the weekend, prompting residents throughout the state to monitor local air quality forecasts before participating in outdoor activities.

“The health and safety of our employees must remain a priority,” said Detroit Ombudsman Sherry Gay-Dagnogo. “As the nation’s leading city impacted by asthma, we also encourage Detroiters to take these air quality alerts seriously and protect themselves and their families. While our staff will be working remotely, our commitment to providing responsive, accessible, and uninterrupted service to the residents of Detroit remains unwavering.”

Detroit has frequently ranked as the nation’s Asthma Capital, making poor air quality especially concerning for thousands of residents living with asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Fine particulate matter carried in wildfire smoke can aggravate asthma, increase breathing difficulties, and elevate the risk of cardiovascular complications among vulnerable populations.

Smoke Affecting Communities Across Michigan

While Detroit has been among the most heavily impacted areas, air quality concerns extend well beyond southeast Michigan. Communities throughout the state—including many served by La Prensa Latina News Wire—have experienced hazy skies and fluctuating air quality as smoke continues moving across the Great Lakes region.

In Grand Rapids, health officials continue encouraging residents to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI), particularly children, older adults, and those with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart conditions. Outdoor recreation, youth athletics, and construction work may be affected if air quality deteriorates further.

The Greater Lansing area, including Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties, has also experienced periods of reduced air quality. Summer camps, outdoor festivals, athletic practices, and municipal workers may need to modify activities should unhealthy conditions persist into Friday or the weekend.

In Flint and throughout Genesee County, residents with respiratory illnesses are urged to remain vigilant. Public health officials recommend limiting prolonged outdoor exposure when smoke concentrations increase, especially for children and seniors.

Communities across the Saginaw Bay region, including Saginaw, Bay City, and Midland, have also experienced elevated particulate levels during recent smoke events. Because wind conditions can change quickly, residents are encouraged to stay informed through local weather forecasts and air quality updates.

Further south, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti have also experienced periods of degraded air quality. Washtenaw County officials continue advising residents with underlying health conditions to reduce strenuous outdoor activity whenever air quality reaches unhealthy levels.

Looking Ahead

Although conditions can improve rapidly with changing winds, forecasters caution that additional smoke from Canadian wildfires could continue affecting portions of Michigan through the coming days. Residents planning outdoor events, youth sports, festivals, or weekend travel are encouraged to check local air quality reports before spending extended periods outside.

Health officials recommend:

• Limiting strenuous outdoor activity when air quality is unhealthy.
• Keeping windows and doors closed when possible.
• Running indoor air filtration systems if available.
• Wearing a properly fitted N95 respirator if extended outdoor exposure is unavoidable.
• Paying close attention to children, older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with asthma, COPD, or heart disease.

Ombudsman’s Office Remains Available

Despite temporarily closing its physical office, the Office of the Detroit Ombudsman continues to provide services remotely.

Residents may contact the office by:

• Phone: (313) 224-6000
• Email: Ombudsman@DetroitMI.gov
• Online:  City of Detroit Ombudsman Complaint Portal⁠

Officials said they will continue monitoring air quality conditions and will announce when normal in-person operations resume.