The alert, which includes Schuylkill County, was issued for elevated concentrations of fine particulate matter, commonly known as PM2.5. Smoke from wildfires in Canada and Minnesota is expected to create very unhealthy air-quality conditions across Pennsylvania.
During a Code Purple alert, everyone is advised to avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities. Children, older adults and people with respiratory illnesses or other conditions that make them particularly sensitive to air pollution should avoid all outdoor activities.
Residents are encouraged to move activities indoors whenever possible.
DEP cautioned that conditions may vary by location and throughout the day. Some areas could experience Code Maroon conditions, the most hazardous category on the Air Quality Index, while others could see less severe Code Red or Code Orange readings.
Residents should monitor current conditions at AirNow.gov and make decisions about outdoor activities based on local air-quality readings.
To help reduce fine-particle pollution during the alert, residents and businesses are encouraged to avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment and refrain from openly burning leaves, trash or other materials.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index uses a color-coded system to report pollution levels. Green represents good air quality, yellow is moderate, orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups, red is unhealthy for everyone, purple is very unhealthy and maroon represents hazardous conditions.