Wildfire smoke drifting from Canada and Minnesota will push air quality in Radnor and Haverford townships to unhealthy levels Thursday, prompting the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to declare a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day.
The designation means pollution levels are dangerous for everyone, not just sensitive groups. Combined with a forecast high of 96 degrees Fahrenheit, Thursday presents a double threat for residents heading outdoors.
What Code Red means
Under the EPA's Air Quality Index, Code Red (AQI 151–200) signals unhealthy conditions for all residents. The pollutant driving the alert is PM2.5, fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Exposure can trigger lung and heart problems, according to the DEP.
The DEP said wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota will enter Pennsylvania's northern counties and push south Wednesday afternoon into Thursday, creating Code Red concentrations across the state. The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, N.J., warned that smoky conditions could linger through Friday into Saturday in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Canada had 835 active wildfires on Wednesday, including 112 out of control, with 1.9 million hectares burned across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario, according to Reuters.
Who should take extra precautions
The DEP recommends all residents limit time outdoors on Thursday. Children, older adults, and people with respiratory illnesses should avoid long or intense outdoor activity and move exercise indoors.
During a similar Canadian wildfire smoke event in 2023, the Delaware County Health Department advised residents to wear N-95 or KN-95 masks outdoors and run HEPA air filters indoors to reduce particulate levels. The same precautions apply on Thursday.
How to reduce local emissions
The DEP is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily cut fine particulate pollution by:
- Avoiding gas-powered lawn and garden equipment
- Reducing or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use
- Not burning leaves, trash, or other materials outdoors
Local cooling centers
Delaware County's heat plan designates the Haverford Township Free Library and Radnor Memorial Library as cooling centers during extreme heat events. With Thursday's forecast high of 96 degrees, these locations may serve as relief from both heat and poor air quality.
The Wayne Senior Center, at 108 Station Road in Wayne, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and can be reached at (610) 688-6246. Residents should call ahead to confirm hours, as the county plan does not specify whether libraries will extend operations during the alert.
The Delaware County Health Department Wellness Line is available around the clock at (484) 276-2100. Residents can monitor real-time conditions at airnow.gov for updates on whether unhealthy air persists into Friday.
