Millions in New York told to limit exercise as wildfire smoke hits

Millions of New Yorkers have been urged to limit strenuous outdoor activities as wildfire smoke blankets the region, prompting air quality advisories and concerns for public health.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued an air quality alert for the New York City metro area on Sunday, warning that smoke from multiple wildfires across the state and in nearby New Jersey is elevating fine particulate matter to levels deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The advisory, in effect until midnight Sunday, affects New York City as well as Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, and surrounding counties.

In its advisory, the DEC said the New York State Department of Health recommends that “individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” especially for children, the elderly, and those with preexisting respiratory conditions.

The smoky haze, triggered by recent brush fires in Prospect Park, the Bronx, in upstate New York and from neighboring New Jersey, spread throughout the city on Saturday.

The fires upstate include a large blaze in Ulster and Sullivan counties, impacting up to 400 acres and involving approximately 13 fire departments, DEC Forest Rangers, and 70 personnel. A 300-acre wildfire in Orange County’s Sterling Forest State Park has shut down multiple trails as Park Forest Rangers and fire personnel work to control the flames.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul confirmed that the DEC and other state agencies are actively monitoring air quality and moving resources to the Catskills, Hudson Valley, and Long Island regions, which are currently at high risk for wildfires.

“With recent drought conditions, there have been multiple wildfires ignited across the state, and we have deployed state assets and agencies to coordinate with local first responders,” said Hochul in a statement on Saturday. She urged New Yorkers in impacted areas to “monitor air quality and take necessary precautions to stay safe.”

The National Weather Service New York office posted a satellite image on X on Saturday which showed the smoke from space.

“We are able to see a wildfire along the NJ/NY border from space courtesy of @NOAASatellites. Some of this smoke/haze may be visible further south into NYC. Smaller fires are also faintly visible, one in central Passaic County, one in SE Orange County, one in SW Putnam County,” the account wrote.

The fires come amid a prolonged drought in the region, which city officials say is worsening the risk of fire and hampering containment efforts. Zachary Iscol, New York City’s commissioner of emergency management, told The New York Times that region’s drought would continue over the next two months.

For additional updates, residents are encouraged to monitor the DEC website and call the Air Quality Hotline at 1-800-535-1345.