Off The Record
Toxic Air Alert: 10 Million Americans Urged To Stay Indoors Amid Chemical Emergency
Due to smoke from wildfires, New York City officials have issued an air quality alert, advising over 10 million Americans to stay indoors.
Since it started Tuesday in Ocean County, close to the shore, a fire in neighboring New Jersey has spread over 15,000 acres.
About half of the fire has been contained, and it is located about 54 miles south of New York City. Until it rains this weekend, firefighters might not be able to completely contain the fire.
Toxic chemicals and small particles found in smoke that is blowing over state boundaries can aggravate asthma, cause heart attacks, and raise the risk of dementia and cancer.
The Department of Health and the New York Department of Environmental Conservation issued a fine particulate matter air quality health advisory for Thursday from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
These airborne particles, which are often referred to as PM2.5, are minuscule and typically have dimensions of 2.5 micrometers or less.
All five boroughs of the New York City Metro region, Westchester and Rockland counties, and Long Island are included in the alert.
These particles can cause major health issues when ingested because they burrow deep inside the lungs.
Furthermore, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, are known to cause cancer by creating genetic abnormalities that facilitate the growth of tumors. These compounds are found in wildfire smoke.
Due to the presence of small particles, officials from the National Weather Service (NWS) warn that the outdoor air quality in New York City may surpass an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100 today.
On a scale from zero (excellent) to 500 (dangerous), the AQI quantifies the concentration of pollutants and particles in the air.
As’moderate,’ an AQI of 100 may be harmful to vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and those with underlying heart and lung diseases.
If people spend too much time outside, they may have shortness of breath, coughing, sneezing, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
“When pollution levels are elevated, the New York State Department of Health recommends that individuals consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects,” the NWS alert reads.
No one has been hurt or killed in the fire as of yet, but the Associated Press (AP) said that 12 structures were still in danger Wednesday night after a business building and a few cars were burned.
“This fire is still very active,” stated Shawn LaTourette, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
“As we continue to get this under full control the expectation is that the number of acres will grow and will grow in a place that is unpopulated.”
Law enforcement and forest fire officials’ investigation revealed that the fire was caused by an insufficiently extinguished bonfire, which was classified as “incendiary.”
According to a statement from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, authorities charged Joseph Kling, 19, of Waretown, with Aggravated Arson and Arson on Wednesday in relation to a wildfire that began in Waretown on Tuesday and spread over the southern Ocean County area.
“At approximately 9:45am ET Tuesday, the Cedar Bridge Fire Tower located a column of smoke coming from the area of Jones Road and Bryant Road in Ocean Township,”
“Upon arrival, emergency personnel observed a fire within the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust’s Forked River Mountains Wilderness Area, which is on the east side of Jones Road.”
Subsequent analysis showed that Kling lit wooden pallets on fire before leaving the scene without putting out the fire.
“Kling was taken into custody at Ocean Township (Waretown) Police Headquarters; he was thereafter transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he is presently lodged pending a detention hearing,” the statement reads.
After being forced to flee, 5,000 residents of New Jersey are finally permitted to go back to their homes.
The dry weather that is usual for New Jersey at this time of year probably contributed to the fire. Because trees are still growing leaves, the humidity is low, and winds can pick up speed, the area is currently experiencing its peak wildfire season, which dries up the forest floor.
However, until recently, the impacted region had also been suffering from a severe drought, which probably made the dry conditions worse.
According to Forest Fire Service Chief Bill Donnelly, New Jersey has already seen almost twice as many wildfires in 2025 than it did during the same time last year, with 662 fires burning more than 16,500 acres.
Only a 2007 fire that burnt 26 square miles is less than the Jones Road fire, which officials say is the worst in almost 20 years.
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