NYC officials say wildfire smoke emergency could last days, expect problem through summer

Smoke from Canadian wildfires cast a haze over the Statue of Liberty and the New York City skyline on the New York Harbor on Wednesday morning, June 7, 2023, as seen from Bayonne. Reena Rose Sibayan | The Jersey Journal)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — New York City officials said Wednesday that they expect the current wildfire smoke emergency to last days, and expect the problem to persist through summer.

City Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol said during a Brooklyn press conference that peak season for Canadian wildfires — the cause of New York City's worst air quality in decades — typically comes in July.

"Smoke traveling from the current wildfires along the Canadian border has significantly impacted air quality here in New York City," Iscol said. "This is something we could continue to see, possibly, over the next few months."

Mayor Eric Adams, who led the press conference at the Office of Emergency Management headquarters, issued a statement at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday after the city's air quality rapidly deteriorated.

Emergency Management Commissioner Zachary Iscol addresses the media regarding New York City's wildfire smoke issue Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

On the U.S. Air Quality Index, an official measurement maintained by the federal government, New York City's air quality reached an index value of 218, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) deems "very unhealthy."

City officials recommended in response that New Yorkers, particularly the elderly, children and those with health conditions, avoid outdoor activities, and wear a high-quality mask when forced to be outside.

As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Staten Island's Air Quality Index value had reached 168, which the EPA says is unhealthy, but city officials expect the air quality to worsen as the day progresses.

"This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precaution," Adams said Wednesday. "This is not the day to train for a marathon or to do an outside event with your children. Stay inside, close windows and doors, and use air purifiers if you have them."

While city officials said they’d yet to see a significant impact on the hospital system in the five boroughs, they had taken a number of precautions at city agencies.

In a tweet made late Tuesday evening, the NYC Public Schools Twitter account posted that it was following guidance from city health agencies to cancel all outdoor activities. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an air quality health advisory for New York City until 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday.

"Where possible, activities can be moved inside. This is a developing situation, and we will keep schools updated as new information becomes available," the tweet stated.

Outdoor activities include recess, Public School Athletic League (PSAL), field days, and other activities, according to a tweet by Nathaniel Styer, a spokesperson for the Department of Education (DOE).

Smoke from Canadian wildfires envelops the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge Wednesday, June 7, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)

CANADA FIRES

Canadian officials expanded evacuation orders on Wednesday and asked other countries for help fighting more than 420 fires nationwide.

Canada's wildfire season started early this year and accelerated very quickly, exhausting firefighting resources across the country, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre spokesperson Jennifer Kamau said.

Kamau said more than 950 firefighters and other personnel have already arrived from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and crews from Costa Rica will be arriving soon.

Associated Press material was used in this report.

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