An air quality health advisory has been issued for New York City and the Hudson Valley yesterday, due to the permeating presence of smoke from several wildfires raging throughout New Jersey. The advisory, shared by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Department of Health, cautions residents about elevated levels of fine particulate matter which poses health risks, especially to those with pre-existing conditions. In a statement obtained by the
New York Daily News
, officials warned that such pollution could cause a gamut of respiratory irritations, and those particularly susceptible include children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung diseases.
Over the weekend, New Jersey experienced multiple wildfires that have contributed to the poor air quality reaching a high of 201 on the air quality index Saturday evening, a level considered very unhealthy for all groups. CBS News New York’s First Alert Weather Team issued a Yellow Alert, echoing the seriousness of the situation, especially for those with respiratory issues. Dr. Anthony Saleh, a pulmonologist, told
CBS News New York
, “Anyone who has a lung ailment, these fires … can really be devastating. It can really make someone get very sick very quickly.”
This current environmental emergency comes on the heels of record dry conditions in New Jersey, with the state not seeing measurable rainfall for over a month. The consequences of this drought have been dire, not only exacerbating the wildfire threat but resulting in tragic outcomes such as the death of 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez. Vasquez was killed by a falling tree while fighting a wildfire in Orange County, as reported by Eastern Dutchess County Fire and Rescue and relayed by the
New York Daily News
.
Residents of New York City are urged to stay indoors and avoid physically demanding activities, especially where particle concentrations are high. The advisory follows a similar precaution issued last year when smoke from Canadian wildfires severely impacted New York’s air quality, as the
New York Daily News
stated. With rain forecasted yesterday evening, there is hope that conditions will improve, and the smog and risk of new fires will decrease as the week progresses.
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