Butler County under Code Orange until midnight Friday
The Code Orange Air Quality Alert issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was set to remain in effect until midnight Friday, June 9, but Butler residents are expected to breathe easier this weekend.
The smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to hover over the United States, as fires in Quebec intensified Wednesday, June 7.
The effects include particulate matter in the air, which contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that can inhaled and cause serious health problems.
AirNow, a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies, is classifying the air quality as a Code Orange, “meaning it is unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Sensitive groups include children, the elderly, people with asthma and heart or lung disease.
AirNow recommended these groups limit time outside, or participate in less strenuous activities.
Butler County was considered to be under a Code Orange alert as of Thursday, June 8.
According to the Pennsylvania DEP, Butler’s air quality is expected to improve moving into the weekend.
By Saturday, air quality conditions are expected to be moderate, meaning those who are unusually sensitives to particle pollution should limit their time outdoors.
