TRENTON—As the Canadian wildfires continue to blanket much of the continent with hazy, irritating smoke, turning the sky a Martian-terrain orange, Garden State officials have upgraded their recent air quality alert to unhealthy.
The alert, previously declared for Wednesday, has been extended to include Thursday.
Gov. Phi Murphy declared an Air Quality Action Day, strongly advising residents to stay indoors. He said appropriate personnel were “vigilantly” monitoring the wildfires and their effects.
“As conditions worsen statewide, I strongly urge all sensitive individuals — including those with heart or lung disease, the elderly, and the young — to stay safe and limit strenuous activities and the amount of time active outdoors today,” he said in a statement.
He added, “Make no mistake, from the wildfires in Canada to those cropping up with increasing frequency and severity in our own backyard, these extreme weather events are tangible — and devastating — evidence of the intensifying climate crisis.”
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection tweeted, “The previously issued Air Quality Action Day for Wednesday, June 7th is being upgraded to the Unhealthy category statewide. In addition, this alert has been extended to Thursday, June 8th at 11:59 p.m.”
Meanwhile, Bergen County Health Officer Hansel Asmar released a statement: “Attention residents of Bergen County, the National Weather Service has issued an air quality alert for the State of New Jersey. Due to smoke conditions stemming from the ongoing wildfires in Canada, the Bergen County Health Department strongly advises all individuals to remain indoors and limit outdoor activities until further notice. The Northern New Jersey and NYC Metro region is anticipated to experience some of the most severe air quality conditions in the country as a result of smoke drift.”
He said, “This poses a significant health risk, especially for those with respiratory conditions, children, and the elderly. The Bergen County Health Department strongly urges the cancellation of all outdoor activities to be rescheduled at a later date. Please keep doors and windows closed, utilize air purifiers if available, and seek medical attention if experiencing breathing difficulties or related symptoms. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities, and we appreciate your cooperation during this critical time.”