Code Red: When Will Camden County's Air Clear Up As Canada Wildfires Rage On?

Update, 10:15 a.m.: Officials upgraded the "code orange" to a "code red" air quality alert at about 10 a.m. Thursday for Camden County and surrounding areas, meaning the air will approach or exceed "unhealthy levels" throughout Thursday.

CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ — South Jersey's air has been deemed unsafe to breathe Thursday as smoke and haze continue to travel from the wildfires in Canada. Officials upgraded Camden County's code orange air quality alert to a code red Thursday morning, meaning the air will approach or exceed "unhealthy levels."

While officials expect conditions to improve soon, it's uncertain when the air quality will reach safe levels.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued the code red alert for Camden County at about 10 a.m. Thursday, effective through midnight. The code orange alert also includes Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, northwest Burlington, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties.

"We recommend for everyone to try to minimize the time they are spending outside or exerting energy but if you must be outside for more than 30 minutes, please wear a high-quality face mask," said Dr. Paschal Nwako, Camden County's health officer. "Residents should also exercise caution and monitor any respiratory symptoms while we are experiencing the additional fine particulate matter in atmosphere."

• Read more: NJ Air Quality Index To Hit Triple Digits Thursday: See Forecast

AirNow.gov, which reports air quality using the official U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI), projected Camden County to reach 155 on the AQI scale for Thursday — the lower end of the "unhealthy" range.

Environmental officials expect the air quality to improve Friday, with Camden County's AQI value reducing to 85, or "moderate" levels of air pollution. Under moderate conditions, unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

It's uncertain when Camden County's AQI value will fall between 0 and 50 — "good" air quality with no expected health impacts. AirNow.gov's forecast only extends through Friday.

The National Weather Service expects New Jersey's smoky and hazy conditions to persist into Friday, before a chance of showers and thunderstorms this weekend.

But for Thursday, Camden County officials "strongly advised" people to take the following precautions:

• Strongly consider canceling outdoor events and gatherings.
• Avoid going outdoors as much as possible.
• Avoid excessive activities outdoors, such as jogging or exercising.
• If you have to go outdoors, wear a high-quality mask, like an N-95 or KN-95 mask.
• Avoid areas of high congestion and where air pollution may be high, like main streets or highways, areas with low air circulation.
• Close all windows and doors to minimize air pollution in your home.
• Recirculate the air in your home with fans to avoid bringing more air pollution into your home.
• Pay attention to their bodies; if they are having trouble breathing, feeling nauseous, or dizzy, they should seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Wildfires have burned over 19 million acres since the start of the year, roughly 6.3 million of which were in Quebec, according to Accuweather. As of Thursday morning, Canada has 500 active wildfires, including more than 250 deemed out of control, ABC News reports.

The frequency, extent and severity of wildfires mark important indicators of climate change, environmental officials say. The peak of the nation's wildfire season is also occurring earlier — peaking in August from 1984-2001 and then in July from 2002-20, according to research from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.