Smokey Summer Returns 

Summer in Upstate New York is known for many types of fires.

Campfires for roasting marshmallows, bonfires for spending time with friends and fires on the grill for making savory food. 

But while these fires bring joy, some don’t. 

On Tuesday, July 14, Saratoga County woke up to hazy skies and a yellow tint in the air. The next day the haze was worse, and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality alert for most of  New York including the Capital Region. 

The haze and drop in air quality are due to a smoke plume spreading across Noth America from the Arctic Circle in the north to as far as North Carolina and the Texas-Oklahoma border in the south. 

The smoke is coming from a series of wildfires across Canada’s interior. These fires, while separate events, stretch from Canada’s border with Minnesota all the way up to the far reaches of Canada in the Northwest Territories. As of time of writing, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre lists 837 active fires across Canada with over 2 million hectares burned this year. 

Of these fires, 531 are listed as out of control monitored — meaning the fire is being observed and but suppression actions aren’t being taken, 189 are out of control, 42 have been held to a certain area and 75 are under control. 

The fires aren’t just in Canada however as two blazes in Minnesota, the Bear Trap and Thumb fires in Superior National Forest have jumped the border. As of publication there are a total of 48 large fires in the United States. 

These fires have had a noticeable impact on the Capital Region. Beyond just the hazy sky and orange sun, the air quality in Ballston Spa noticeably dropped, going from moderate air quality throughout most of Tuesday to unhealthy for sensitive groups on Wednesday. 

Outside the Capital Region, several parts of New York, several areas to the south in Germantown, and the City reported unhealthy levels as did Upstate cities like Rochester and Buffalo. 

Driving the drop in air quality is the presence of fine particle matter in the air. Of concern to health experts are particles 2.5 microns or smaller which can include organic material, by products of combustion and metals. Exposure to these particles has been linked to deaths in those with pre-existing conditions, non-fatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and respiratory issues, according to the EPA. 

Those with pre-existing conditions are advised to limit their time outdoors during drops in air quality. 

“Given the heightened air pollution levels we are seeing in parts of the state, the New York State Department of Health recommends that New Yorkers limit strenuous outdoor activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “People who are especially sensitive to the effects of elevated levels of pollutants, including the very young and those with pre-existing respiratory problems such as heart disease or asthma, should avoid spending time outdoors, if possible. Those who experience symptoms or have symptoms that worsen should consider consulting their personal physician.”

Smoke from wildfires in Canada has become a recuring part of summer in Upstate New York. Last year smoke from wildfires in Quebec led to similar warnings across the state.