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Air Quality

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8 Children, 5 Adults Suddenly Sick At Lehigh Valley Day Care Center 8 Children, 5 Adults Suddenly Sick At Lehigh Valley Day Care Center
8 Children, 5 Adults Suddenly Sick At Lehigh Valley Day Care Center Thirteen people were hospitalized with headaches and dizziness after suddenly falling ill at a North Whitehall day care center on Wednesday morning, Oct. 11, state police say.  First responders were called to the Lehigh Valley Children’s Center on Park Avenue in Neffs around 10:30 a.m., troopers said.  In total, five adults and eight infants and toddlers were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest.  Police say it's still unclear what caused the victims to feel sick. The day care will remain closed for the rest of the week while air quality specialists work the…

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by Mac Bullock
Weather
Smoky Skies To Stay For Summer? Forecasters Say More Hazy Days Are Ahead Smoky Skies To Stay For Summer? Forecasters Say More Hazy Days Are Ahead
Smoky Skies To Stay For Summer? Forecasters Say More Hazy Days Are Ahead The July 4th weekend has arrived, but chances are the smell of smoke outside isn't coming from barbecues — and according to forecasters, there's even more ahead. The air quality on Saturday, July 1 was slightly better than it was earlier in the week, with AQIs average in the 120s and code orange and yellows issued — as opposed to purple and red — across the region. Slowly, slowly, the smoke was starting to disperse. However, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson is confident, it will be back. "I do believe this will go down as the summer of smoke and haze for much of Canada and …

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Incoming Storm Means Slight Air Quality Improvement Along East Coast, Forecasters Say Incoming Storm Means Slight Air Quality Improvement Along East Coast, Forecasters Say
Incoming Storm Means Slight Air Quality Improvement Along East Coast, Forecasters Say A weekend storm could slightly help improve the Canadian wildfire smoke still lingering along the East Coast, meteorologists are saying. While skies will be sunny with a high in the mid-80s on Friday, June 30, they'll also be hazy for most of the day, according to the National Weather Service. The Air Quality Index remained in the triple digits along East Coast of 9:15 a.m., with code red issued across much of the area. In Pittsburgh, air quality levels remained very unhealthy, according to AccuWeather's Plume Labs. Worst air quality in this batch is just northwest of us and some spots…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
These Maps Show Realtime Smoke, Air Quality As Canadian Wildfires Rage These Maps Show Realtime Smoke, Air Quality As Canadian Wildfires Rage
These Maps Show Realtime Smoke, Air Quality As Canadian Wildfires Rage Can't tell if it's smoke or cloudy skies above? The following realtime configurations and air quality maps won't have you guessing anymore. A realtime configuration from Fire Smoke Canada — the Canadian portal for information about wildland fire weather and smoke — shows exactly where each of the more than 150 wildfires are raging and predicts roughly how heavy the smoke will be and where. The New York Times, meanwhile, has a similar smoke forecast map that indicates light, medium, or high levels of smoke from the fires, based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rea…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Smoky Summer: Could Week Of Wildfires Be Preview Of What's Ahead? Smoky Summer: Could Week Of Wildfires Be Preview Of What's Ahead?
Smoky Summer: Could Week Of Wildfires Be Preview Of What's Ahead? Are this week's smoky skies a preview of Summer 2023 in the Northeast? According to U.S. National Weather Service meteorologist Bryan Ramsey, that depends. Ramsey is quoted by CBS New York saying "it's really just going be all about the wind shift." According to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson, the Canadian wildfires are showing no signs of slowing down and will "likely continue to burn over Quebec into the summer, as they are in remote, heavily wooded areas," he said. But, if what Ramsey is saying is true, then raging fires in Canada — and locally, for that matter — …

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area As Canadian Wildfires Burn Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area As Canadian Wildfires Burn
Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area As Canadian Wildfires Burn Widespread smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to bring hazardous air quality levels across the region. Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of fine particulates again on Thursday, June 8, according to the National Weather Service.   Check air quality conditions in your area, visit AirNow.gov by clicking here. "The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern," said the weather service. ALSO SEE: Smoke Relief Coming Next Week, Unhealthy Air Quality Here To Stay (Mostl…

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by Joe Lombardi
Weather
Smoke Relief Coming Next Week, Unhealthy Air Quality Here To Stay (Mostly) Until Then Smoke Relief Coming Next Week, Unhealthy Air Quality Here To Stay (Mostly) Until Then
Smoke Relief Coming Next Week, Unhealthy Air Quality Here To Stay (Mostly) Until Then Looks like the East Coast has a smoky few days in store. But fear not, relief is allegedly on the way. As of Thursday, June 8, levels in North Jersey were considered very unhealthy and in greater Philadelphia/the Lehigh Valley were considered hazardous. Levels in the Baltimore and Washington DC area were also considered very unhealthy as of Thursday morning. ALSO SEE: Here's How To Check Conditions In Your Area As Canadian Wildfires Burn Canadian wildfire smoke expends south Thursday and Friday.AccuWeather Smoke improvement forecast from AccuWeather.AccuWeather Areas around New Yor…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Here's When Air Quality Will Improve — But It's Going To Get Worse First, Forecasters Say Here's When Air Quality Will Improve — But It's Going To Get Worse First, Forecasters Say
Here's When Air Quality Will Improve — But It's Going To Get Worse First, Forecasters Say The air quality in the Northeast could get worse before it gets better, meteorologists say. A red air quality alert (unhealthy) was issued across New Jersey, with a purple issue (very unhealthy) in greater Philadelphia due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires being pushed into the area. The question on everyone's mind now: When will air quality improve? According to Weather.com, hopefully this weekend. The region is expected to see a change in weather pattern, which is expected to change the wind direction and push remaining smoke out. Air quality will be very poor today due to the s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Weather
Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire
Air Quality Alert For South Jersey, Pennsylvania Fueled By Wildfire A massive 5,000-acre wildfire raging across Burlington and Ocean counties has contributed to an air quality alert in South Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania, authorities said. Levels of fine particulates and ozone also will rise into the unhealthy zone for sensitive groups, according to the National Weather Service and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.  If you have been outside Thursday, June 1 in southeast New Jersey or southern Delaware, you may have noticed extra smoke and the smell of fire in the air.  While there is decreased air quality due to fires in Nova Scotia, C…

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by Jon Craig
Police & Fire
'Avoid The Area': Fire Crews Battle Blaze In Philadelphia 'Avoid The Area': Fire Crews Battle Blaze In Philadelphia
'Avoid The Area': Fire Crews Battle Blaze In Philadelphia Over a hundred firefighters were on the scene of a three-alarm blaze in Philadelphia on Wednesday afternoon, emergency officials say.  First responders warned of a major fire near the corner of Torresdale Avenue and Fraley Street around 3:40 p.m. on May 31 in a tweet. Residents were advised to steer clear of the area and neighbors were asked to shut windows and stay inside.  A large plume of smoke was visible from the area, and the city Public Health Department dispatched inspectors to collect air quality samples. As of around 3:40 p.m., "no specific hazardous substances have been identifi…

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by Mac Bullock
Police & Fire
Crews Battle Massive Junkyard Fire In Southwest Philadelphia Crews Battle Massive Junkyard Fire In Southwest Philadelphia
Crews Battle Massive Junkyard Fire In Southwest Philadelphia About 100 firefighters are responding to a two-alarm fire at a junkyard in Southwest Philadelphia on Friday, May 26, the city Fire Department says.  Firefighters have been on the scene at South 61st Street and West Passyunk Avenue since about 10:50 a.m., PFD wrote on Twitter. By about 12:20 p.m., officials said the fire was under control, but crews remained on the scene.  The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management is asking residents to avoid the area. Meanwhile, the city Health Department said inspectors are at the scene assessing air quality. "At this time, no specifi…

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by Mac Bullock
News
Firefighters Keep NJ Warehouse Blaze From Reaching 50 Tons Of Chlorine Firefighters Keep NJ Warehouse Blaze From Reaching 50 Tons Of Chlorine
Firefighters Keep NJ Warehouse Blaze From Reaching 50 Tons Of Chlorine UPDATE: Authorities on Saturday said they'd finally gotten a massive industrial complex fire in Passaic under control nearly a dozen hours after it broke out. More than 200 firefighters fought the 11-alarm blaze, which forced evacuations of nearby homes, sent potentially dangerous smoke into the air and prompted officials to urge residents to keep their windows closed. The smoke reportedly was spotted on weather radar. Passaic Mayor Hector Carlos Lora called the fire “the worst that I’ve ever seen.” Fortunately, he said, firefighters were able to keep the flames from releasing toxic fume…

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by Jerry DeMarco