Statewide Code Red Air Quality Alert Issued as Wildfire Smoke Moves Through Pa.

Smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota will create unhealthy air quality through Pennsylvania, including Centre County, this week, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

The department has issued a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day for Thursday, indicating air pollution levels will be unhealthy for everyone.

“During Code Red Air Quality Alerts all residents should consider limiting their outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider moving activities indoors,” the DEP wrote in a news release on Wednesday.

More than 100 wildfires are burning and Canada and at least a dozen more are active over in northern Minnesota. With winds pushing the smoke southeast hazardous air alerts have been issued across the Midwest and Northeast.

Air polluted by fine particulate matter from the wildfires began entering Pennsylvania’s northernmost counties on Wednesday afternoon before pushing into southern counties into Thursday.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index uses standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting air quality. Green means good air quality; yellow means moderate air quality; orange means unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups; and red means unhealthy pollution levels for all.

In the State College area, air quality was at the moderate level of 55 on Wednesday afternoon, but is predicted to rise to the unhealthy level of 165 on Thursday, according to airnow.gov.

During an Air Quality Alert, residents are encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash and other materials; reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use; and avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.