Smoky Air Is Back, and Likely Not for the Last Time, Say State Officials

New York State environmental officials are once again issuing air quality warnings in most parts of the state through Tuesday due to smoke from widespread Canadian wildfires.

Governor Kathy Hochul spoke about the latest wave of smoky air at an event inside the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. She was supposed to hold the event outside, to announce the completion of renovations at Double Day Field, but she says the toxins in the air were spiking.

“We are experiencing very compromised air quality at this moment,” Hochul told the audience. “Since I arrived here, the air quality in Cooperstown went from 71 to 136.”

Anything above 100 is considered unhealthy for people with underlying health conditions, like asthma or heart disease.

When the numbers reach 150 or higher, then the air is considered unhealthy for everyone.  

It’s the third time since early June that the warnings have been issued.

“ It's been an extraordinary summer,” said Hochul’s environmental commissioner, Basil Seggos.

Seggos says this weeks’ air quality alerts are not likely to be the last.

“Unlike last time when we were having smoke from Quebec, and to some degree Ontario, this smoke is from Western Canada, the fires in Western Canada,” Seggos said. “It's 25 million acres burning across Canada, really an unprecedented number. And most of those fires are, I would say, out of control.  “

Seggos says those fires are fueled by climate change, with above-average temperatures and below-average amounts of rainfall.

The state’s health commissioner, Dr. James McDonald, recommends that people stay on top of the potential dangers form the smoky air, and check their weather apps on their phones, including the federal EPA’s AirNow app, then plan accordingly. Precautions should include wearing an N-95 or KN-95 mask outside.

“I think it's important for New Yorkers to listen to their bodies,” McDonald said. “If you go outside, and the air quality index is high, and your coughing, eyes are burning, your nose is running, that's a time to say, ‘hey, I need to put back on my N95 mask, or I need to go inside into, you know, a safer space’.”

Governor Hochul says if the air quality levels rise to 200 or greater, New Yorkers can expect an alert on their cell phones, warning them of the potential danger.