Harrisburg, PA –The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Purple Air Quality Alert for particulate matter (PM2.5) for Thursday, July 16, 2026 for Butler, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
Wildfire smoke from Canada and Minnesota has intensified in the listed counties and will see Code Purple concentrations of PM2.5.
Residents are strongly encouraged to check www.airnow.gov for current conditions in their area.
During Code Purple Air Quality Alerts all residents should avoid long or intense outdoor activities, and sensitive groups such as children, elderly residents, and those with respiratory illnesses should avoid all outdoor activities. All residents are encouraged to move 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; and
- Avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash, and other materials
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Air Quality Index (AQI) 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 forecasted to be Code Orange or higher.
For more information about air quality, visit DEP’s Air Quality Partnership Home Page and EPA’s AirNow.
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