HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania's air quality has deteriorated further as the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) upgraded the state to a Code Purple Air Quality Action Day for Friday.
The upgrade from Thursday’s Code Red alert comes as a heavy, concentrated plume of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from Canadian and Minnesota wildfires blankets the entire commonwealth.
A Code Purple designation indicates "very unhealthy" air quality for all residents, not just vulnerable populations. Under these conditions, state health and environmental officials advise all Pennsylvanians to avoid long or intense outdoor exposure and strongly recommend moving activities indoors.
Sensitive groups—including children, elderly residents, pregnant individuals, and those with pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular illnesses—are urged to completely avoid all outdoor activities.
Because shifting wind patterns can cause rapid fluctuations, the DEP emphasizes that local air quality may vary significantly by zip code. Some areas may experience less severe conditions, while others could temporarily spike into the hazardous "Code Maroon" threshold. Residents are urged to monitor real-time, local data at AirNow.gov before making decisions about going outside.
To avoid compounding the heavy air pollution, the DEP is asking residents and businesses to voluntarily suspend activities that create additional emissions, such as using gas-powered lawn mowers and landscaping tools, or burning trash, leaves, and other materials.
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