"You can feel the smoke right in your throat"

Jun. 7—Several air purifiers ran Wednesday inside the Community Intervention Center in Scranton, a daily refuge for the city's vulnerable homeless population.

But as Canadian wildfire smoke continued to blanket the region in a fuggy haze, Deputy Director Michelle Matyjevich noted the center's headcount was higher and people seemed to stay longer.

"We have a lot of folks coming in complaining about their asthma, their allergies, the scratchy throats," she said. "Unfortunately, without us, these guys really would have nowhere to go. The majority of our population are homeless. ... So if we weren't here they would be out on the streets and they would be inhaling this all day long."

The smoke that enveloped Northeast Pennsylvania on Tuesday and Wednesday originated in Quebec, where wildfires burning hundreds of miles north of Scranton are sending skyward plumes of particulate matter and other material marring air quality.

It's the worst smoke outbreak in the Northeastern United States in more than 20 years, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said.

The Community Intervention Center, which resumed the pandemic-era practice of passing out masks amid the smoke conditions, saw 63 people pass through its doors as of 1 p.m. By that time, the Scranton School District had dismissed all students early, citing air quality concerns.

The City of Scranton suspended refuse and recycling collections Wednesday, as well as Department of Public Works highway, traffic and flood-protection work, before City Hall closed early at 2:30 p.m.

Assuming conditions improve and workers can return to normal operations Thursday, trash and recycling collections will be a day behind.

"The majority, if not all of our work, is outside and it is strenuous," city DPW Director Scott Pietreface said, noting officials suspended work to prevent unnecessary exposure to smoke conditions. "We also suggested that when they leave work they remain indoors as much as possible."

Dickson City Borough Manager Cesare Forconi said he instructed DPW lead man Kevin Cochrane to give workers picking up trash and recycling more breaks and to monitor them for any ill effects of the smoke. The borough provided workers N95 masks and may stretch trash pickup to Friday if need be, Forconi said.

"We want to afford them more breaks and a slower pace," he said.

Poor air quality postponed the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders' Wednesday home game against the Norfolk Tides at PNC Field. Tuesday's series opener with Norfolk also was postponed.

Exposure to fine particulate matter carried by wind from the Canadian wildfires may cause eyes, nose, throat and sinus irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, headaches, fast heartbeat, chest pain and shortness of breath, according to the Lackawanna County Department of Health and Human Services.

"The acute effects are more likely to impact in a significant way those with chronic diseases, in particular chronic lung disease and cardiovascular issues," said Dr. Sean Devine, division chief for pulmonary medicine at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. "There is an increased risk of heart attacks during times like this. Specifically though, with pulmonary issues, (there's) increased risk of ... exacerbations of emphysema in particular, and asthma exacerbations."

The smokey conditions aren't likely to have a significant effect on people who are young and healthy, he said.

Because elevated levels of fine particulate matter can worsen asthma, heart disease and other conditions, the county health department recommends individuals avoid outdoor activities and remain inside with the windows closed.

Devine echoed that advice and recommended people wear N95 masks when outdoors.

The Abington Heights School District moved all recesses, gym classes and other outdoor activities inside Wednesday, Superintendent Christopher Shaffer, Ed.D., said. A pair of elementary school field trips that couldn't be rescheduled continued as planned, but parents had the option of opting out their children.

West Scranton resident Ron Palermo, 69, felt the effects of the smokey air Tuesday after working outside for several hours.

"My throat was scratchy and it felt like it was burning," he said. "Same thing (Wednesday) — I was outside (for) about an hour and a half at my church cutting a couple bushes, and you can feel the smoke right in your throat."

Palermo doesn't smoke and doesn't have asthma or other respiratory conditions.

"It can affect you though," he said of the hazy conditions. "It's bad out there."

Contact the writer: jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141; @jhorvathTT on Twitter.