Canadian Wildfires Cause Air Quality Alert In Area

Canadian wildfires have led to a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Tuesday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

The advisory for fine particulate matter will be in place for Tuesday in Bucks, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. An advisory was not issues for Hunterdon County in New Jersey.

The National Weather Service predicted the smoke will begin to come into the area Monday evening and remain over the region for Tuesday.

Haze from smoke from Canadian wildfires are spreading back into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Hazy skies will persist through at least Tuesday. You can find Air Quality alerts on our website:https://t.co/WQeQE93E9t pic.twitter.com/timME1daPl

— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) June 5, 2023

“Smoke due to wildfires in eastern Canada will likely contribute to daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter in the Code Orange range on Tuesday,” according to a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection press release.

An orange alert indicates there will be unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people.

Officials said that young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, including asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, should minimize outdoor activities on an Air Quality Action Day because they are more susceptible to the impacts of air pollution.

Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Action Day areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:

• Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use;
• Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials; and
• Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.