The Montgomery County Department of Public Safety is urging area residents to use judgment when calling 9-1-1 to report smokey and/or hazey conditions due to the influx of reports from wafting Canadian wildfires.

From their message:

We are receiving a significant influx of 9-1-1 calls reporting smoke, a haze, and/or a general burning odor throughout Montgomery County this evening. Based on reports from the US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly, we believe the cause to be smoke moving into our area from wildfires in Canada.

To our residents: we urge you to use your best judgment when deciding to call 9-1-1 to report conditions such as those described above this evening. However, if you are unsure of whether or not you need the fire department to respond, as always, we encourage you to call or text 9-1-1.

Photo courtesy of Cathy Wang