Gov. Kathy Hochul warned Thursday that smoke from Canadian wildfires will blanket New York state and that Western New York is among the regions expected to see the worst air quality over the next day or two.
What the governor said
Hochul said “all of New York is going to see and smell smoke today and tomorrow,” and that levels could reach the purple (“very unhealthy”) range on the Air Quality Index. She urged New Yorkers to monitor real-time air quality at AirNow.gov and to stay indoors if possible.
Health advice and state actions
The governor emphasized that people experiencing shortness of breath or chest pain should seek immediate medical attention. She singled out older adults, children, people with heart or breathing problems, pregnant people and outdoor workers as especially vulnerable.
State actions announced in the release include distributing N95 masks to counties that requested them, mask availability at major New York City transit hubs, National Guard assistance with mask distribution in the city, and staff at upstate Thruway rest areas offering masks to travelers. Hochul also asked employers and summer camps to suspend or curtail outdoor activities through the period of heaviest smoke.
Local impact
The press office said the forecasted smoke will be worse in Western New York, Central New York, the Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley and the Hudson Valley, though the release notes much of the state will be affected at times. Officials said some relief is expected by the weekend and asked residents to stay informed and limit outdoor exertion while air quality is poor.
Video, audio and a rush transcript of the governor’s remarks were released by the New York State press office.
