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Code Red air quality alert issued
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has declared a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day for particulate matter (PM2.5) for today, Thursday, July 16.
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will be entering Pennsylvania's northernmost counties and pushing into southern counties, creating Code Red concentrations of PM2.5, DEP said in a news release.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.
The state DEP has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Friday, July 17, for all of central Pennsylvania.
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.
Residents and businesses within the Air Quality Alert areas are strongly encouraged to voluntarily help reduce fine particulate matter air pollution by:
-- Avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
-- Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use
-- Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials.
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 Alert is declared when the AQI is forecast to be Code Orange or higher.
Cooling center open
The Salvation Army Center, 1813 Sixth Ave., will be open as a cooling center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, July 16-17. Anyone in need of a place to cool down from the high temperatures is welcome.