Code red: Smoky conditions return
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Smoke has arrived again from the distant wildfires in Canada, leading state officials to issue a Code Red for Greater Williamsport and a lung specialist to issue several ways to endure and remain unharmed by the particulates in the air.
The particulate matter in the air was resulting in a white haze in the sky as local firefighters battled a blaze near Watsontown and thousands of people began to shoot fireworks off, including the kind that emit noxious smoke.
A Code Red Air Quality Index continues today, officials with the state Department of Environmental Protection said.
That means those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to those effects of air pollution and should avoid outdoor activities. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.
The smoke, which is expected to arrive periodically throughout the summer, is from 235 out-of-control Canada wildfires, according to The Associated Press. Nearly every province in Canada is fighting a blaze, with a record 30,000 square miles burned, which is an area nearly as large as South Carolina, according to the Canadian government.
Moreover, the official fire season typically does not get in high gear until July in Canada.
"These current alerts on air quality are related to the Air Quality Index," said Dr. Ganga Ranasuriya, pulmonologist, UPMC Lung Center.
The AQI further breaks air pollution levels into five categories, each of which has a name, an associated color and advice to go along with it.
"We advise people to consider adjusting their plans for the day, limit time outdoors and avoid prolonged vigorous activity outdoors," Ranasuriya said.
All can experience trouble
"Everyone can experience effects resulting from these poor air quality days," he said. "Don't assume that you're safe just because you are healthy. Air quality pollution can threaten anyone's health," she said.
"Be aware of how you feel on high pollution days and take steps to help protect yourself," Ranasuriya said.
Those at higher risk for complications include: Children and teens, people with asthma and other lung diseases, anyone over 65, anyone who exercises or works outdoors, anyone who has diabetes or cardiovascular disease, like high blood pressure or has suffered a heart attack or stroke.
Ranasuriya also suggested changing what "you do on these bad air days can reduce your risk of being harmed."
"It's easier to just avoid or limit time outdoors," she said.
If one must go outside, be mindful of how "you feel and take breaks to come indoors out of the air," she said.
"When indoors, it can also be helpful to have windows and doors closed," she said. "If you need to use air conditioning or other means to bring cooler air into the home, use devices in windows with HEPA filters to help reduce the particles that are coming into the home," she said.
It can also be helpful to have fans and other devices, especially those with HEPA filters, to help circulate the indoor air.
Sky conditions for those working
Pilots flying commercial flights into and out of Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville may have to use their instrumentation should conditions worsen, as they did several weeks ago, according to Richard Howell, airport executive director.
The pilots are trained to operate flights using their instrumentation done during rain and clouds and at night, he said.
The Goodyear Blimp stopped at the airport en route west.
"Due to the air quality alert in Michigan, we are having all crew members wear masks whenever they are working outside," said Dan Smith, senior airship communications specialist.
The airship appeared over Lycoming County in a haze of the smoke.
"We are certainly doing our best to navigate these unique circumstances," Smith said.
"Our intentions are still to transit to Detroit to provide aerial coverage of this weekend's Rocket Mortgage Classic golf event," he said.
In terms of Wingfoot Three, this is actually Goodyear's California-based airship and crew.
After having some routine maintenance scheduled at the base in Suffield, Ohio, the team is covering these PGA events last weekend in Hartford, Connecticut and this weekend in Detroit, before bringing the blimp back to California in late July.
It takes about 10 days for the blimp to cross the country though it often takes more because of events to cover along the way, Smith added.
Each of the three US-based Goodyear Blimps travels with a crew of about 20, including pilots, aircraft mechanics, vehicle mechanics, broadcast technicians, and general crew members.
The Blimp flies everywhere it goes, with this ground crew launching the airship, traveling on the road to its next destination, setting up at the airport, and landing the Blimp on the other end.
The mast truck that holds the Blimp overnight weighs about 64,000 pounds and can keep the airship secure in up to 90 mph winds.
"Among the other ground support vehicles with each blimp is a semitruck that provides workspace and tools for our mechanics, allowing us to perform any required maintenance wherever happen to be," Smith said.
Fireworks, more cars on highway
In coming hours, people will be celebrating the July 4 holiday, lighting their private fireworks, including smaller kits that emit noxious black smoke and driving to and fro.
It will become harder for those trying to catch a fresh breath of air should the smoke combine with the humidity and heat of mid-summer.
A stuck weather pattern made abnormally hot and dry conditions for Canada to burn at off-the-chart record levels, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration's Weather Prediction Center.
Smoke or heat, "Pick your poison," said Greg Carbin, prediction center forecast operations chief. "The conditions are not going to be very favorable."
As long as there are fires burning, it is going to be a problem for the U.S.
"As long as there's something to burn, there will be smoke we have to deal with."
Karen Vibert-Kennedy, Sun-Gazette news and media editor, and The Associated Press contributed to this story.