A helicopter flies by the Wesley Ridge wildfire near Cameron Lake where an out-of-control fire continues to burn near Coombs, British Columbia, Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press via AP)

Smoke from Canadian wildfires will affect much of eastern and central Pennsylvania today, Tuesday, Aug. 5.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for particulate matter from wildfire smoke today in Centre and Huntingdon counties, along with the counties of Potter, Tioga, Clinton, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Frankin, Perry, Cumberland, Adams, York, Dauphin, Union, Snyder, Northumberland, Lycoming, Tioga, Montour, Columbia, Sullivan, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Carbon, Schuylkill, Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Lebanon, Lancaster, Bucks, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires will persist across most of central and eastern PA during the day today and bring PM2.5 averages to the Code Orange range. Light southeasterly winds will allow for limited pollutant dispersion.

Residents are encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.

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.

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

– Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment;

– Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash and other materials; and

– Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index provides standardized color codes for forecasting and reporting daily air quality. Green signifies good air quality; Yellow means moderate air quality; Orange represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people; and Red warns of unhealthy pollution levels for all. An Air Quality Action Day is declared when the AQI is forecasted to be Code Orange or higher.