HARRISBURG, Pa. — State officials have declared a statewide Code Red Air Quality Action Day for Thursday, July 16, 2026, as thick smoke from Canadian and Midwestern wildfires drifts into Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued the warning on Wednesday after projections showed a heavy plume of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) moving into Northeast Pennsylvania before spreading across the rest of the state.
Under a Code Red alert, air quality is considered unhealthy for the general public. The DEP is advising all residents to consider limiting their time outdoors.
Sensitive groups—including children, elderly residents, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing respiratory or heart conditions—are urged to take extreme caution, avoid prolonged or intense outdoor activities, and move their activities indoors where possible.
To help reduce further localized pollution during the alert, the DEP is asking residents and businesses to take several voluntary measures:
- Avoid using gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.
- Reduce or eliminate the use of fireplaces and wood stoves.
- Avoid the open burning of leaves, trash, or other outdoor materials.
Residents can track real-time air quality measurements in their specific zip codes by visiting AirNow.gov.
