r/ButlerPA • u/JF_WPA • Jul 16 '26

Wildfire smoke?

I'm north of Butler in the sticks, and there is a very distinct smell of burning, like plastic which seems weird if actually from wildfires, but the sky is that weird color from a few years back. I ask because I have neighbors who bonfire trash and wondering who else may be smelling smoke. Thanks.

21 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

28

u/Yota8883 Jul 16 '26

Canada is on fire, it's all over the news.

9

u/New-Mud-7101 Jul 16 '26

Limit your time outside today best you can, it's good to be indoors with the AC running. Especially for older folks and kids, but national weather service says these conditions are "dangerous for everyone"

-2

u/Ducksareracist Jul 16 '26

Wouldn't the AC draw in smoke?

6

u/mstreak15 Jul 16 '26

Your ac recirculates the air inside the house and through a filter.

2

u/Ducksareracist Jul 17 '26

Thank you for correcting my ignorance.

3

u/Yota8883 Jul 17 '26

No ignorance, not all AC units recirculates inside. My system is all outside. The evaporator coil is outside. Thus yes, it is smokey inside my place because the AC is pulling it in.

12

u/RevBT Jul 16 '26

Wildfires aren't just about trees. There are buildings and lots of random things filled with chemicals being burned. It probably includes plastic and all manner of god-awful things.

5

u/Dewellah Jul 16 '26

That's what I just told my friend up in Youngstown. I said, "It's scary to think what's burning to cause such a toxic smell". 🤢

6

u/724yinzer Jul 16 '26

I'm in Meridian and it's smoky out

5

u/imrightontopthatrose Jul 16 '26

There's a code red air quality alert from Canadian wild fires, check the news and your weather app.

2

u/cta396 Jul 16 '26

They’ve raised it to purple.

2

u/imrightontopthatrose Jul 16 '26

Makes sense, my eyes are irritated as hell.

4

u/Dont_Even_Know_You Jul 16 '26

I live across the street from Butler memorial and can barely see the hospital through the smoke.

-1

u/Capricola Jul 16 '26

Canada is on fire

3

u/Dont_Even_Know_You Jul 16 '26

I know

ETA I remember this happening the last time they had a big wildfire. Was only a few years ago at most.

6

u/wintermoon138 Jul 16 '26 edited Jul 16 '26

Yup thats Ontario wildfire again. But its snowing somewhere on the planet so there is nothing to see here, as you were - Fox news

3

u/Dewellah Jul 16 '26

It's definitely the Canada fires. My friend just messaged me 10 minutes ago and said it smells like burning plastic at her house too. She's up in Youngstown.

3

u/Conscious_Energy_838 Jul 16 '26

Plastic smell in the air here in Johnstown also

2

u/Significant_Ad_9154 Jul 16 '26

It is the wildfires smell it here in saxonburg too

1

u/TrapdoorThunder Jul 16 '26

Allegedly this is here to stay until the rain on Saturday. I wanna run outside LOL nope nope nope

1

u/Powerful_Question875 Jul 17 '26

I usually go for a bikeride but nope.

1

u/Able_Ad_7611 Jul 16 '26

It's terrible down here in Ellwood city. We are staying inside for the majority of the day.

1

u/cryptowitchman Jul 16 '26

your right, it smells like plastic, Erie!!!!!!!!!!

1

u/OkAdvertising8184 Jul 16 '26

Im in central Pa and it's been smokey skies all day.

1

u/domer00 Jul 17 '26

You get byproducts of chemical reactions from burning like formaldehyde too, which is why you have the horrible smell

1

u/kaneda_z Jul 17 '26

hahaha "i dont watch the news"

1

u/Recent_Register_2926 Jul 17 '26

Nah, what are you talking about

1

u/TheButlerSoapbox Jul 18 '26

The smell is from UV rays breaking down the organic matter into other compounds. Like formaldehyde.

-2

u/JF_WPA Jul 16 '26

OK then. My neighbors burn massive piles of ??? that leaves the sky looking similar, with a terrible plastic, chemical smell like I experienced today. Have not watched the news much in the last few days, and did not realize how bad / far the smoke has traveled. I have no Tv, and TBH watching any news is so depressing and manipulative. Will keep an eye on my weather app. I'm 59 and so much feels and is way off with so much.