The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Red Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates for all of Montgomery County through midnight on Thursday due to air pollution concentrations from the ongoing wildfires in Canada.

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 Airnow.gov’s air quality index (AQI) online measurement tool, the Ambler area currently sits at a 180 AQI and is considered “Unhealthy.” On Wednesday, the AQI was 133.

The tool’s suggestions read:

People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Keep outdoor activities short.
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

Everyone else – take any of these steps to reduce your exposure:

• Choose less strenuous activities (like walking instead of running) so you don’t breathe as hard.
• Shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.
• Be active outdoors when air quality is better.

Concentrations will rise during the afternoon, with the highest hourly concentrations expected to be late in the day and are expected to begin improving late Friday into Saturday.