The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Tuesday (August 5) in Berks and Lancaster Counties. This alert, which also covers much of central and eastern Pennsylvania, is due to smoke from Canadian wildfires affecting the region's air quality. The smoke is expected to linger throughout the day, causing levels of fine particulate matter to rise into the Code Orange range.
According to the DEP, this level of air quality can cause health issues for sensitive groups, including young children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions. These residents are advised to limit outdoor activities and keep windows closed to minimize exposure.
The DEP encourages residents to monitor local air quality conditions by visiting AirNow and to take steps to reduce particulate pollution. Suggested actions include avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn equipment, refraining from open burning of materials, and reducing fireplace and wood stove use.
For more detailed information and resources, residents can visit the DEP’s Air Quality Partnership page.