UPDATE: Parts of Tri-State Area Under Unhealthy Air-Quality Alert

Update June 6, 10:00 p.m.

There are currently over 100 wildfires in Canada, affecting over 9.3 million acres. The smoke from these fires has reached Rockland County, and we will continue to experience smoke tonight and tomorrow, with tomorrow potentially worsening. Those with asthma, heart or lung disease may have trouble breathing, but the general public is not likely to be affected. It is recommended that residents stay inside and keep the doors and windows closed to avoid smoke exposure. 

Emergency personnel are receiving a high volume of fire and smoke-related calls leading to a possible delayed response by police, firefighters, and EMS. The Ramapo Police Department has requested that callers carefully consider the source of the smoke they are reporting before calling for emergency response.

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Update: June 6, 5:30 p.m.

Rockland County skies are hazy, with the tang of smoke evident in the air, as wildfires continue to rage hundreds of miles away, sending smoke from Canada.

The Tri-State Area is still under a code orange air quality alert leading to the recommendation that New Yorkers remain indoors, try to conserve energy, and limit outdoor fires due to the worsening air quality throughout the State.

Canada is only at the beginning of its wildfire season, while New Jersey wildfires are also contributing to the poor air quality in recent weeks leading officials to believe that the poor air-quality conditions are not going away any time soon.

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A series of wildfires in Nova Scotia, Canada, is affecting the air quality in New York, and the states of the Tri-State area are issuing code orange air quality alerts. 

A strong “eastern edge” is dragging the air down from the north, the same system that is bringing in the chilly air that we felt overnight—and people in the affected areas may even smell smoke. 

People with heart disease, lung disease, and asthma are generally advised to avoid inhaling poor-quality air.