Wildfire smoke lingers over Mohawk Valley; air quality alert extended

Oneida County air quality alert has been extended through midnight Wednesday, according to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The air quality alert for fine particles – along with the recent bright orange sunrises and sunsets – are a result of smoke from wildfires raging across eastern Canada. 

Breathing in the smoke’s fine particles is a health hazard, necessitating the alert.  

The alert also went out for several other counties across the state, including Onondaga and Madison, among others. 

The National Weather Service recommends people limit strenuous outdoor activity, especially the very young and those with respiratory problems such as asthma or heart disease. 

See the map:Track wildfires, warnings across New York

The city of Utica canceled all sports activities at city fields Tuesday, including softball and soccer games and practices.

About the Canadian wildfires 

More than 6.7 million Canadian acres have already burned in 2023, federal officials announced last week, marking one of the worst starts to wildfire season. 

Officials said firefighters contained a wildfire in Nova Scotia on Sunday but that another one was still burning out of control covering nearly 100 square miles, according to The Associated Press. 

Blazes have caused hazy skies as far south as South Carolina, and parts of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Southeastern Minnesota and all of Wisconsin have air quality advisories in effect, too. 

Includes information from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle .