BLACK mobile logo

united states

Canadian wildfires prompt New York air quality alert

July 26, 2025

New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health have issued an air quality health advisory for New York City and surrounding areas due to smoke from Canadian wildfires. The affected regions include Long Island, NYC Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks, with air quality deemed "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and predicted to reach an Air Quality Index (AQI) of up to 135. Currently, Canada is battling over 550 active wildfires, with the highest concentration in Manitoba, resulting in 6.

Who is affected

  • Residents of New York City and surrounding areas (Long Island, NYC Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley, and the Adirondacks)
  • Sensitive groups particularly vulnerable to poor air quality
  • Residents of parts of New England under air quality alerts
  • Approximately 30,000 people evacuated from Saskatchewan and Manitoba provinces
  • Americans in northern United States experiencing air quality concerns
  • Babies and the elderly (mentioned as requiring additional precautions in previous alerts)

What action is being taken

  • New York state's Department of Environmental Conservation and Department of Health are issuing air quality health advisories
  • Authorities are warning about unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups
  • Air quality alerts are being implemented in parts of New England
  • Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared a state of emergency

Why it matters

  • The Air Quality Index is predicted to exceed 100 in much of New York state and could reach 135
  • There are over 550 active fires in Canada, most concentrated in Manitoba
  • 6.1 million hectares (15 million acres) of land has been burned across Canada in the past year
  • The situation has political implications reaching Washington, with six members of Congress writing to the Canadian ambassador
  • Scientists link the intensifying wildfire seasons to climate change
  • Canada is warming at twice the global average rate, with Arctic regions heating up at nearly three times the global rate

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC