All of PA now under ‘Code Red’ for unhealthy air quality levels due to wildfire smoke

Environmental officials warned Pennsylvania residents to limit their time outdoors Wednesday due to levels of fine particulate matter in the air caused by smoke from Canadian wildfires.

The state Department of Environmental Protection declared a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for the entire state, after issuing a Code Orange Quality Action Day in the Centre Region on Tuesday.

“Young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should avoid outdoor activities, and everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion,” DEP said in a Wednesday morning statement.

According to airnow.gov, air quality in State College at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday was 152, which is considered unhealthy. The EPA said that concentrations of smoke will likely be high throughout the day in western Pennsylvania and increasing throughout the day in the eastern part of the state.

Residents and businesses are asked to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash and other materials, and not using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

The EPA’s Air Quality Index uses color codes to report daily air quality:

• Green means good air quality;
• Yellow means moderate air quality;
• Orange means unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups;
• Red means unhealthy pollution levels for everyone.

Smoke from the wildfires is expected to impact air quality in Pennsylvania through Friday, with “some possible relief” on Saturday, the DEP wrote.

Three weeks ago, the entire state was placed under a Code Red Air Quality Action Day due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Hazy skies blanketed Centre County and events such as the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games were canceled.

This story was originally published June 27, 2023 at 8:49 PM.