Canadian wildfire smoke is currently affecting the Upper Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, creating air quality concerns for millions. The latest forecasts indicate smoke will continue to shift across the eastern United States through the weekend, with additional rounds possible next week if wildfires remain active. For commercial property owners and facility managers, these events can cause indoor air quality issues, increased strain on air systems, harmful odors, and workspace contamination. Here’s what you need to know and watch for as this event progresses.
Communities where facilities face the highest risk
Dense smoke is expected to move into portions of the Midwest and Northeast through the coming days:
- Saturday: Buffalo, New York City, Philadelphia, Albany, and Boston.
- Sunday: Green Bay, Milwaukee, Traverse City, with the potential for smoke to reach parts of the Northeast Sunday night.
- Next week: Forecast models indicate another round of smoke may develop Tuesday (7/21) through Thursday (7/23) across portions of the Midwest and Northeast.
How smoke impacts commercial facilities
Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particulates that can enter your facility through HVAC systems, loading docks, overhead doors, roof vents, and gaps in the building. Over time, these particles can accumulate and settle, affecting workspaces, production areas, equipment, and stored materials.
Depending on the building design and duration of exposure, facility managers may notice:
- Smoke infiltration throughout production spaces
- Strain on HVAC systems and air filters
- Absorbed smoke odors in insulation and building materials
- Particulate buildup on machinery, conveyor belts, shelving, and equipment
- Dust buildup on inventory and packaging
- Reduced indoor air quality for employees
Professional smoke cleanup can help address contamination and odors and restore affected areas to reduce disruption after prolonged smoke events. If your building has experienced any of the issues above, ServiceMaster Restore® is ready 24/7 with commercial smoke damage restoration, duct cleaning, and odor removal, designed to help commercial facilities return to normal operations as quickly as possible.