Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry A haze settled over Warren County Wednesday as wildfires in Canada sent smoke and particulates into the atmosphere.

Warren County was solidly in the red zone of air quality at 10 a.m. Wednesday and smoke could remain in the air into Saturday.

The red zone is labeled as “unhealthy” by airnow.gov.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a statewide alert on Wednesday, as smoke from wildfires in Canada impacted air quality.

“The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has declared a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for all of Pennsylvania for fine particulate matter for June 28, 2023, due to smoke from Canadian wildfires,” according to a DEP release.

That was a move for the worse compared to the red/orange alert issued Tuesday evening.

“Air quality conditions degraded overnight as more smoke from the wildfires pushed into Pennsylvania from the Great Lakes region,” DEP said. “The average Air Quality Index readings for the entire day will likely be in the Code Red range, however local conditions could be worse throughout the day.”

Erie had the worst measured air quality in the region Wednesday afternoon, with a PM 2.5 (fine particulate matter) reading of 175. There were several readings over 200 in the Pittsburgh area and in Ohio.

Pennsylvania included purple (very unhealthy), red, orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups), and yellow (moderate) areas.

All of Ohio was in the red or purple categories Wednesday afternoon.

“On a Code Red Air Quality Action Day, young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should avoid outdoor activities, and everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion,” according to DEP. “Concentrations of smoke will likely be high throughout the day in western Pennsylvania and increasing throughout the day in eastern Pennsylvania.”

“Smoke from the wildfires is expected to impact Pennsylvania air quality throughout Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with some possible relief on Saturday,” according to the release. “DEP will continue to update the forecast.”