Wildfire Smoke Blankets Western New York; Air Quality Wont Improve Until Friday Sabrina Knaflitz [0i8SQu9cSVX]

An air quality advisory is in effect across New York State Wednesday as more than 800 wildfires burn in Canada, creating heavy smoke that could once again affect millions of Americans.

Health officials say the smoke has made the air unhealthy to breathe, particularly for sensitive groups. Monroe County leaders are urging residents with underlying health jonah lomu conditions to use caution and limit their time outdoors.

The smoky conditions are expected to linger through Thursday, with air quality not improving until Friday.

For many people across Western New York, Wednesday's smoky skies may bring back memories of June 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed the region, turning the sky an eerie orange and creating dense, hazardous haze.

"I just remember waking up in the morning and it looked like red skies at night, only it was daytime," Terrie Goeddertz said. "It was kind of hard to breathe when you went outside."

13WHAM spoke with a Rochester Regional Health doctor about why wildfire smoke can be a health concern.

"It can certainly exacerbate or worsen asthma symptoms, asthma control, COPD, emphysema and chronic cough," said Dr. S. Shahzad Mustafa, RRH's division head of allergy, immunology and rheumatology. "Individuals with those conditions should make sure they're staying on their prescribed treatment plans, often including daily inhalers."

People with respiratory conditions said they plan to take precautions Wednesday.

"I will wear a mask when I go outside. I have recreational asthma," Farooq Ali said. "It's not as severe as most people's, but I can be affected. I may skip the soccer game this week and stay indoors for the most part."

"It was a really big disappointment," James Cassata said. "We wait all year for this great weather and want to be out on the lake, and you kind of can't when it's unhealthy to be outside."

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