Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown Mayor Derrick McDowell issued an advisory Thursday afternoon implementing emergency measures to protect people from the smoke emanating from Canadian wildfires. The smoke is causing hazardous air quality, the advisory states.

“Due to the hazardous air quality from the Canadian wildfires, the City of Youngstown is implementing the following emergency directives to protect health and the safety of its residents and employees, effective immediately,” according to a city press release.

All nonessential city employees are advised to transition to indoor work activities, the release states.

Essential services (police, fire, EMS and public works) will continue to operate, though all outdoor training and nonemergency outdoor duties are suspended.

All city parks, outdoor recreational facilities and public pools are closed until air quality returns to safe levels. All city-sponsored outdoor public events within Youngstown are postponed.

The release states that the city will continue to monitor air conditions and provide updates as needed via email, social media channels and news releases.

Air quality can also be tracked directly via AirNow (www.airnow.gov), and additional resources can be found at CDC (www.cdc.gov/air-quality/about/index.html), the release states.

The city also provided these health and safety recommendations, stating that residents are encouraged to take the following precautions, especially children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those with heart or lung conditions:

• Limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities.

• Remain indoors with windows and doors closed when possible.

• Use air conditioning with clean filters or air purifiers if available.

• Avoid outdoor exercise during periods of poor air quality.

• Wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 mask if extended outdoor exposure is unavoidable.

Individuals experiencing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest discomfort or eye irritation should reduce exposure and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen, the release states.

OTHER ADVISORIES

The following are other advisories issued Thursday in response to the smoke:

• Due to the current air quality advisory for the region, the Friday, July 17 YO NIGHTS! downtown business takeover event with the band Geo C & Tha Storm is postponed. A new date for the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre event will be announced once it is rescheduled.

• In Struthers, all city parks, outdoor recreational facilities and the splash pad were closed Thursday afternoon “until air quality returns to safe levels.”