Air Quality Advisory Extended on Long Island Following Canadian Wildfires
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality warning for most of the state, including Long Island, due to smoke that has traveled south from Canadian wildfires. The advisory is in effect through 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Air quality on Long Island and in New York City was “unhealthy” as of late Wednesday afternoon, according to a NYS DEC chart updating the public on air quality indexes across the state. The National Weather Service also issued an advisory on Wednesday.
“Air quality levels in outdoor air are predicted to be greater than an Air Quality Index value of 100 for the pollutant of Fine Particulates,” the NWS advisory states. “The Air Quality Index, or AQI, was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale. The higher the AQI value, the greater the health concern.”
The New York State Department of Health is advising people to limit outdoor physical activity during this time and especially warning sensitive populations to remain indoors.
“People who may be especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants include the very young, and those with preexisting respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. Those with symptoms should consider consulting their personal physician,” the NWS states.
Gov. Kathy Hochul issued a statement on Wednesday urging schools to cancel any outdoor activities and keep children inside.
“Over the past several days, my team and I have been closely monitoring air quality and providing updates to New Yorkers as haze and smoke from Canadian wildfires continue to spread throughout the state,” Hochul said in a statement. “The State Department of Environmental Conservation and State Department of Health have issued air quality warnings since Monday, and according to the most recent forecast, much of the state outside of the North Country is expected to be in an air quality index of unhealthy to very unhealthy today.
“Additionally, my administration has been in contact with the cities of Syracuse, Rochester and New York. I support their decisions and the decisions of other districts to suspend outdoor school activities and strongly urge those who have not yet done so to follow suit,” she added.
New York residents can stay informed and keep updated on the air quality situation by calling this toll free number: 1-800-535-1345.
