The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for Tuesday in 20 Pennsylvania counties, including Butler.

According to a Monday news release from the DEP, smoke from wildfires in northern and western Canada, along with light winds, will likely contribute to increased daily average concentrations of fine particulate matter, reaching the Code Orange range on Tuesday.

The code orange designation represents unhealthy pollution levels for sensitive groups of people. Young children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities.

Residents and businesses within the areas affected by the Air Quality Action Day are strongly encouraged to voluntarily reduce air pollution by limiting or eliminating fireplace and wood stove use, avoiding the open burning of leaves, trash and other materials and avoiding the use of gas-powered lawn and garden equipment.

For more information, visit the DEP’s website, www.dep.pa.gov.