Smoke from Canadian wildfires is spreading over much of the northern United States — including our neighborhoods right here in North Warren — prompting health concerns and an air quality alert.
A Code Orange air quality alert has been issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for most of the state.
“A Code Orange air quality alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups,” the DEP said in a statement Wednesday.
Those sensitive groups include children, the elderly, and people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other respiratory diseases. The DEP advises avoiding strenuous activity or exercise outdoors to avoid risk.
Smoke from wildfires in four Canadian provinces, particularly Ontario, began drifting into the Northeast in mid-May and has continued to affect air quality in New Jersey.
Wildfires seasons have been building in intensity in recent years, with the number of fires already 40 percent above average this year.
Devastating Canadian wildfires in July of 2023 had a severe impact on New Jersey, particularly in farming regions. The integrity of the sunshine can have adverse effects on crops, according to seed producer Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. Sufficient sunlight is critical for maximizing plant photosynthesis and crop yield, and lower-than normal solar radiation during late-season plant development can be detrimental.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
