Air quality alert issued for Centre County due to smoke from Canadian wildfires
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- DEP issued a Code Orange alert for Centre County due to wildfire smoke exposure.
- Sensitive groups advised to limit outdoor activity amid fine particle pollution.
- Residents urged to curb emissions by avoiding fire use and gas-powered tools.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued an air quality alert Tuesday for areas including Centre County as smoke from Canadian wildfires persists across the Northeast.
In central and eastern Pennsylvania, smoke from the wildfires will bring elevated fine particle pollution to the “code orange” range, which indicates unhealthy air for sensitive groups.
“On a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day, 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 limit outdoor activities,” the DEP’s advisory states.
Residents are encouraged to help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by not using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, avoiding open burning and reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use.
The alert is expected to end at midnight Wednesday.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires has led to recent air quality alerts in the Midwest and Northeast, with many areas also experiencing hazy skies. The air quality index ranges from good (green) to hazardous (maroon). The next, more severe rating after unhealthy for sensitive groups is unhealthy (red).
According to AccuWeather’s forecast, wildfire smoke may create reduced air quality on Wednesday and Thursday.
For more information on current air quality conditions, visit www.airnow.gov.
