July 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nFor comparison, the Air Quality Index topped 300 across parts of Western Pennsylvania during the June 2023 smoke event caused by wildfires in Quebec, according to the National Weather Service data.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything above 300 becomes hazardous on that scale,\u201d Kienzle said.<\/p>\n
In Cleveland on Thursday afternoon, he said there\u2019s \u201cpretty shockingly bad air quality\u201d over 500 on the scale. Downtown Cleveland is at 596 as of 2:30 p.m., and other areas are up to as high as 609.<\/p>\n
Dr. Sally Wenzel, director of the University of Pittsburgh Asthma and Environmental Lung Health program, said wildfire smoke is similar to wood smoke and contains tiny particles that can irritate the body.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe smoke consists of particulate matter that\u2019s smaller than one-thirtieth the diameter of a human hair,\u201d Wenzel said. \u201cWhen it gets into the eyes, the back of the throat or the lungs, it can cause irritation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wenzel urged people to stay indoors when possible and wear a well-fitting N95 mask if they must be outside. She said masks are especially important for people with respiratory conditions and anyone planning to exercise outdoors.<\/p>\n
Dr. Tariq Cheema, division chief of pulmonary and critical care at Allegheny Health Network and a teaching professor at Drexel University, said wildfire smoke can be especially irritating because the tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t really quantify it, but it\u2019s like walking into a room full of cigarette smoke,\u201d Cheema said.<\/p>\n
People with asthma, emphysema or other chronic lung conditions are more likely to experience problems, he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a significant increase in phone calls from people who are not doing well \u2014 who have lung disease,\u201d Cheema said. \u201cSometimes we have to put these folks on steroids.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cheema advised residents, especially those with lung conditions, to stay indoors as much as possible while air quality remains poor.<\/p>\n
\u201cI noticed the smoke around 11 this morning,\u201d Michael Spanos, 40, who runs Gus & YiaYia\u2019s ice ball stand on Pittsburgh\u2019s North Side, said Thursday afternoon. \u201d We opened the shaved ice stand around noon, and you can just look and see the haze in the air. I haven\u2019t had any trouble breathing, but customers have mentioned they\u2019ve been having issues. They say they can feel it in their throats, like a burning sensation when they breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Customer Chuck Pollard, 66, remarked: \u201cAin\u2019t nothing we can do about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Featured Local Businesses<\/p>\n
Bob Kassanitsh 65, was concerned as he finished an ice ball at Gus & YiaYia\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sucks,\u201d he said. \u201cJust the smell, my eyes feel funny like they\u2019re getting swollen.\u201d<\/p>\n
He headed to his car for shelter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not feeling too good,\u201d Kassantish said.<\/p>\n
Kienzle said it looks like the smoke will linger through Friday morning at least, with some into the afternoon and then \u201cgradual improvement as we get into Friday evening.\u201d He expects smoke to largely move northeast by sunrise on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Western Pennsylvania residents should monitor air quality alerts issued by the Allegheny County Health Department and the state Department of Environmental Protection, meteorologists said, as smoky conditions are expected to persist.<\/p>\n
In Tarentum, the haze prompted concern among residents.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want to take a deep breath,\u201d said Willene Aikens, a volunteer firefighter for the Eureka Fire-Rescue EMS in Tarentum.<\/p>\n
Aikens urged people with pre-existing health conditions to consult their doctors or local hospitals if they experience symptoms and to limit time outdoors when possible.<\/p>\n
At Diamond Antiques and Gifts, employees Rhonda Netzel and Laurie Van Tine watched the smoky conditions worsen throughout the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came in this morning, I didn\u2019t notice anything,\u201d Netzel said. \u201cI saw on the news about the big fire and thought, \u2018Surely it\u2019s not really going to come here.\u2019 But it got worse and worse, and now it\u2019s kind of suffocating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Tine said customers repeatedly commented on the smoky conditions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been progressively worse as the day goes on,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople have been saying it\u2019s foggy, smoggy, stinky. Their eyes are itchy and burning. The heat is plenty enough to deal with without the smoke.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staff writers Nadia Commodore and Naomi Girson contributed to this report.<\/p>\n