Smoke spreads into our region from Canadian wildfires

HELENA, MONTANA – As smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to creep through Pennsylvania and the eastern United States, air quality reports have been dipping into dangerous numbers for those with prolonged exposure outdoors.

The Record on Wednesday afternoon reached out to a location known for dealing with the hazards and safety features put in place due to wildfires and wildfire smoke: the good people of the state of Montana.

“With wildfire season in Montana, we normally suggest that people with asthma or any chronic conditions stay in a well-ventilated area with air purifiers, such as a store, a library, or community center,” said a spokesman with the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana.

“Alternatively, using air conditioning that is treating the air as it comes into the house or use of an air quality filter device is also a good idea.”

What the spokesperson described as “usually a western phenomena,” wildfire season is very early this year in Canada.

“We just had a first wave of fires in Canada’s Alberta Province, with quite a few U.S. fire crews and hot shots out in Canada right now traveling to Ontario and Quebec,” she explained. “The United States has an international agreement with Canada to provide emergency support for wildfires.”

Ideally what people should generally not do is anything that would cause extreme exertion while being outside.

“Limit your exposure, close windows, avoid any strenuous activities that cause one to breathe heavily,” she explained. It is through breathing that the harmful pollutants in the air begin to cause breathing and throat irritation.

Accuweather currently reports that the Air Quality Index (AQI) for Lock Haven is around 101, but people in places like Syracuse, New York are reporting air quality levels in the “hazardous area” of the lower 400s.

If you have to travel, you can use the “recycle air feature” in your car. It usually looks like a curved arrow on one of the cabin climate control features of your car. That will “recycle” the air already in use in your car, and not draw any “fresh” air in from the outside.

“For Montanans, this is a common phenomenon, and I thank you very much for reaching out to the west to ask how we take care of ourselves during the times of wildfires,” she said.

A list of available resources for tracking air quality, smoke forecasts, and a fire and smoke map are below.

AirNow (Lock Haven, PA information was not available, most likely there are no air quality meters around Lock Haven, but Renovo reports an AQI of 186 and an “unhealthy” level)

Fire and Smoke Map

Smoke Forecast