wildfires

Low rainfall was already a challenge for New York farmers. Now, fires are making things even more dangerous.

Though some rain fell earlier this week, officials say weeks of abnormally dry conditions have created a high risk for more fires.

Before smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted into northeastern states this spring and summer, about half of New York counties were equipped with air quality sensors.

A number of wildfires in Canada sent plumes of smoke into the United States and upstate New York last month. The smoke pushed the air quality into very unhealthy and even hazardous levels. WSKG's Brent Fox spoke with the director of the Center for Environmental Health, Dr. Gary Ginsberg with the New York State Department of Health, to learn more about air quality and the Air Quality Index.

Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn in Canada, pushing smoke and haze into cities and towns across the Northeast. Local officials are working to respond to the situation, and hoping conditions clear soon.

“The fires aren’t going to go away, and the jet stream isn’t going to change, so we could even see days like this in August, or in October.”