Heavy smoke in the region forces cancellations

Most outdoor activities were called off Friday due to health concerns.

The smell of smoke lingered in the air, visibility dropped across parts of the region and the Mon Valley came to an unusual standstill Friday as hazardous air quality forced businesses, pools and outdoor attractions to close.

Canadian wildfire smoke blanketed Southwestern Pennsylvania throughout the day, prompting the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to issue a statewide Code Purple Air Quality Alert. The Allegheny County Health Department issued an Air Pollution Episode Warning for the Mon Valley as fine particulate pollution exceeded federal health standards.

Louis Quantu of Belle Vernon fishes in the Monongahela River along Water Street in Belle Vernon Friday afternoon as smoke from Canadian wildfires hangs over the Mon Valley. Jeff Helsel / Mon Valley Independent

Officials said smoke and air quality were expected to worsen throughout Friday before conditions begin improving this morning. Residents were urged to limit time outdoors, avoid strenuous activity and heed advice from state and local agencies to protect themselves from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke.

The Allegheny County Health Department said the Mon Valley exceeded the 24hour PM2.5 standard at an official monitoring station, and concentrations were expected to remain elevated for at least another 24 hours. Under the warning, companies in the Mon Valley that contribute to air pollution are required to temporarily reduce activities that produce emissions.

PM2.5 consists of microscopic particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller that can come from power plants, industrial operations, vehicle exhaust, wood-burning stoves and wildfires.

Health officials said exposure to elevated levels can cause coughing, wheezing, reduced lung function, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, particularly among children, older adults and people with heart or lung disease.

The hazardous conditions prompted a growing list of closures across the Mon Valley and surrounding communities.

Dominic’s of New York in Charleroi announced it would remain closed Friday because of poor air quality. YoungYinz Burgers in Elizabeth also closed for the day, telling customers deteriorating conditions made closing “the right choice” to protect employees and patrons.

Several outdoor recreation facilities also suspended operations. The Mon Valley YMCA in Carroll Township closed its outdoor pool for the day because of hazardous air quality, while the West Newton Community Swimming Pool closed after the Air Quality Index reached 206, a level classified as “very unhealthy.” Canonsburg Park & Recreation also announced its community pool would remain closed Friday because of the smoke.

Pine Cove Beach Club and RV Resort in Fallowfield Township announced it would close for the day because of the Canadian wildfire smoke, saying the health and safety of its staff and customers remained its top priority. The resort also postponed several weekend activities, moving today’s planned events to Sunday because of the smoke and the potential for rain.

The closures mirrored actions taken throughout the Pittsburgh region. Kennywood, Sandcastle and Idlewild & SoakZone all closed Friday under the statewide Code Purple alert.

Allegheny County canceled its Summer Concert Series in South Park, closed North and South Park golf courses and shut down all county-operated swimming pools.

The City of Pittsburgh closed all city pools and canceled several outdoor programs, including the Northside Farmers Market, Dollar Bank Cinema in the Park, a Community Pop-Up Concert in Mellon Park and the Roving Art Car program. Horse racing at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows in North Strabane Township was canceled, while several additional pools in Washington and Westmoreland counties also closed.

Not every event, however, was canceled.

The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership announced that Picklesburgh would open as scheduled at noon Friday despite the Code Purple alert.

“We’ve made the decision to open Picklesburgh as planned today at noon,” the organization said in a statement. “We’ll continue monitoring conditions throughout the day and have given vendors and staff the flexibility to decide what’s best for them.”

Organizers encouraged visitors to use their own judgment when deciding whether to attend, acknowledging some people may choose to stay home because of the smoke while expressing hope that conditions would improve for the remainder of the weekend.

State officials said air quality across the region is expected to improve today. Residents, especially children, older adults and those with respiratory or heart conditions, were encouraged to stay indoors when possible, keep windows closed, limit outdoor activity and monitor changing conditions.