PHILADELPHIA—The City of Philadelphia is under a Code Red Air Quality Alert for particulate matter. This alert is a result of wildfires in Canada blowing smoke south into the United States. A Code Red Air Quality Alert means that the air is unhealthy to breathe, and some people may experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Air quality may vary throughout the city and throughout the day, with some areas having significantly worse air quality depending on the prevailing winds.
“Today is not the day to start your marathon training plan,” said Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health. “We are currently experiencing the effects of the wildfires burning in Canada. The forecast calls for the smoke to move out starting tomorrow, but today we need to take care of ourselves. If you don’t need to be outside, try to limit your time out there. If you do go out, make sure to protect yourself: take frequent breaks, especially if you can get indoors, and consider wearing an N-95 or KN-95 mask. People who are especially vulnerable to wildfire smoke, like those with heart or lung conditions, should take extra special care and consider avoiding being outdoors. Be sure to check on your neighbors and pets. And like with other such events, we will get through this together.”
The Health Department is hopeful that this event will end by Friday, July 17, 2026. However, this forecast could change, so residents are encouraged to continue monitoring the situation via local news, City social media accounts, and the ReadyPhiladelphia emergency notification system.
All City services are operating normally. City employees who are working outdoors, including those working to respond to the severe storms this week, are being encouraged to take more frequent breaks, and consider wearing a mask.
The Health Department recommends that all residents also take precautions to protect themselves. If you experience symptoms including trouble breathing, heart palpitations, nausea, or dizziness, seek immediate medical attention.
Sensitive groups include people with heart or lung disease (including asthma), older adults, children, pregnant people, immunocompromised people, people experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs, people without access to air filtration, and outdoor workers.
Members of sensitive groups should avoid prolonged (greater than one hour) or intense outdoor activities. Consider rescheduling or moving activities indoors.
All residents should try to reduce prolonged (greater than one hour) or intense outdoor activities. Take more breaks during outdoor activities and consider wearing a mask if you are outdoors.
To keep indoor air clean, you can:
- Close all windows and doors.
- Turn off air conditioning or switch air conditioners to recirculate mode.
- Avoid activities that create more particulate matter indoors, including:
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- Smoking and vaping.
- Using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces.
- Spraying aerosol products.
- Frying or broiling food.
- Burning candles or incense.
- Vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
If you don’t have an air conditioner, staying inside with the windows closed may be dangerous in hot weather. If you are hot, go somewhere with air conditioning.
To see the current air quality at the City’s air quality monitors near you, please visit www.phila.gov/breathephilly.
The Health Department and the Office of Emergency Management will continue to monitor the air quality and provide updates as they become available. For more information, please visit the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management X account, the Health Department’s Bluesky account, and register to receive emergency alerts from ReadyPhiladelphia by texting READYPHILA to 888-777 or visiting www.phila.gov/ready.
You can also refer to the Health Department’s blog post about what’s happening at https://www.phila.gov/AirQualityRedPM. The blog post will be updated regularly.