Wildfires in Eastern Canada Cause Smoky Skies in the US: Air Quality Alerts and Recommendations

Wildfires in the eastern provinces of Quebec and Nova Scotia are sending smoke back into the United States, including the New York City area, causing smoky, hazy skies.

Look here on this map the air quality in your area:

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a color-coded system developed by the EPA, where worsening air quality indicates a greater risk to personal health and a greater need for precautions. Unhealthy levels include:

• Orange AQI level (101-150): Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, meaning members of sensitive or vulnerable groups may experience health effects.
• AQI Red Level (151-200): Categorized as unhealthy, meaning members of sensitive or vulnerable groups may experience more serious health effects, and some members of the general public may also experience health effects.
• Purple AQI level (201-300): very unhealthy, indicates that the risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
• Maroon AQI Level (301-500): Dangerous, with health warnings of emergency conditions for the entire population.

RECOMMENDATIONS DURING POOR AIR QUALITY

Smoke from a fire contains a mixture of gases, particles, and chemicals. If you breathe smoke, you may experience temporary irritation to your eyes, nose, and throat. People with asthma or other cardiovascular or respiratory conditions may be more vulnerable to health effects from smoke exposure.

Follow these tips to stay safe in the short term if there has been a fire in your building or in your neighborhood.

• Stay inside and keep windows closed.
• Close the fresh air intake of your air conditioner to prevent outside air from entering your home.
• Clean furniture covered in cloth and other porous materials.
• Be on the lookout for air quality alerts.
• Use an air purifier.
  After a fire in your building, odors may take several weeks to clear up. During this time, it is important to thoroughly clean and ventilate as much as possible to improve indoor air quality.
• Wear a mask outdoors.

“We recommend vulnerable New Yorkers stay indoors and all New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible. This is not the day to train for a marathon or do an outdoor event with your kids. Stay indoors indoors. Close doors and windows and use air purifiers if you have them,” Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday. “If you’re older or have heart or respiratory problems, you should stay inside…and if you have to go outdoors, wear a high-quality mask, like a K95.”