The Brooklyn Bridge could hardly be seen on Wednesday as the city was engulfed in toxic smoke from multiple fires in Canada. Eagle photo by Mary Frost
“As I was out walking the streets [on Tuesday], clearly we knew something was happening that was beyond normal,” Mayor Eric Adams said Wednesday morning at a news conference on the city’s deteriorating air quality caused by Canadian wildfires.
The mayor, surrounded by officials and commissioners from agencies including the Health, Emergency Management and Sanitation departments, said that the Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures toxic particulate matter, or PM2.5, had climbed to 218 by 10 p.m. in parts of New York City.
This level is labeled as “Very Unhealthy” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“This morning at 7 a.m. the air quality index was 174 in the Bronx, and will remain around that level for at least another day,” Adams said. “This is an unprecedented event in our city and New Yorkers must take precautions. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for all five boroughs.”
“New Yorkers should limit outdoor activity to the greatest extent possible. This is not the day to train for a marathon or to do an outside event with your children,” Adams said.
Public schools are still in session, but outdoor school activities and lunches have been canceled for Wednesday and this could be extended, depending on the rapidly changing conditions, Schools Chancellor David Banks said.
“The entire system has been fully notified. There are no trips that should be planned, there is no outdoor activity today….
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