As the heat holds steady and the skies get smokier, health officials are advising people with working air conditioners to stay indoors.
So, how are outdoor workers getting through the rough conditions?
As if the high temps and humidity aren’t bad enough this week, workers outside on Thursday afternoon have been hit with another element in this weather whammy.
“We just come in early, try and get as much as we can get done before the heat really starts up for the day,” said Josh Zayas, owner of Keystone Lawn Designs. “It’s been tough dealing with the smoke from the wildfires, the humidity, the heat all together.”
A Code Red Alert issued by the Department of Environmental Protection for the entire state as wildfire smoke makes its way from up north.
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DEP issues Code Red Air Quality Alert statewide for Thursday due to particulate matter levels
“Makes it a little bit harder to breathe,” Zayas said.
The City of Bethlehem responded by closing all its pools for the day and rescheduling a block party at Madison Park to Monday.
The City’s health department tells 69 News, following the poor air quality we experienced back in 2023, the city developed guidelines based on air quality index (AQI) numbers.
By 3:30 pm Thursday, the AQI here in Bethlehem was 186. Once it’s in the red, the city says it begins shutting down activities for health and safety.
But other parts of the city don’t necessarily stop for weather.
“We are at the height of the construction season. So we have a lot of ongoing projects,” said Michael Alkhal, director of Public Works in Bethlehem.
Though they do at least slow down some.
“More frequent breaks, make sure there’s, you know, people are, have water available to them,” said Alkhal.
“Cool towels around the neck, making sure we’re hydrated, ice, lots of drinks,” Zayas said. “I have asthma, I have to stay with my inhaler all day, battling through it.”
In Allentown, Mayor Tuerk tells 69 News they just closed their pools as well.
In Easton, fire hydrants and pools are still open for now.