For the past few days, the air quality in our region has been affected by the wildfires in Quebec and Ontario Canada.  The smoke clouding our area is coming from 416 active fires in Canada.  As of Wednesday morning, The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center listed 240 of them as "out of control."

            A low pressure system over Nova Scotia was pumping the smoke south over the Great Lakes, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

            The smoke, with the distinct smell of burning wood, spread deeply into our area Tuesday causing dozens of reports to local volunteer fire companies.  Emergency dispatchers and first responders were kept busy with ongoing responses to reports of "smoke in the area."

            Montgomery County issued the following alert via their Ready MontCo Alerts system:  "Montgomery County is receiving a significant influx of 9-1-1 calls reporting smoke, a haze, and/or a general burning odor throughout Montgomery County this evening. Based on reports from the US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly, the cause is believed to be smoke moving into our area from wildfires in Canada.  Residents are urged to use their best judgment when deciding to call 9-1-1 to report conditions such as those described above. However, if you are unsure of whether or not you need the fire department to respond, as always, we encourage you to call or text 9-1-1."

            The counties in our four-counter corner of the commonwealth, Berks, Bucks, Lehigh, and Montgomery, were among those in southeast Pennsylvania that had Code Orange air quality alerts issued on Tuesday that were extended into Wednesday.  The alerts were issued by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

            An Air Quality Index of Orange is listed as unhealthy for sensitive groups.  People who are vulnerable to the effects of air pollution or those with breathing problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, or heart disease can minimize the effects by avoiding strenuous activity or exercising outdoors. 

            You can find up-to-date air quality levels at airnow.gov by entering a zip code.