Latest news with #AirQualityActionDay
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
One Million Drivers Told To Avoid Gas Stations
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Indiana residents are being advised to minimize visits to gas stations today as smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to worsen air quality across the state. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has extended an Air Quality Action Day through Saturday; fine particulate levels are reaching unhealthy thresholds, particularly in northern, northeastern, and northwestern regions, as reported by WNDU, potentially affecting at least a million people. Newsweek contacted IDEM for comment via email on Saturday. Why It Matters EPA reports that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily evaporate into the air and are released from sources like petrol stations, vehicle exhaust, paints, and industrial processes. At gas stations, VOCs escape during refueling and contribute to air pollution even with vapor recovery systems in place. When VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in sunlight, they form ground-level ozone—a major component of smog, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reports. EPA advises that this ozone can aggravate asthma, trigger respiratory symptoms, and harm people with existing heart or lung conditions. File photo: The price of gasoline is displayed on a pump at a gas station on March 6, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. File photo: The price of gasoline is displayed on a pump at a gas station on March 6, 2025 in Chicago, To Know The smoke originates from over 200 wildfires burning across Canada, as reported by the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, with plumes stretching thousands of miles and affecting air quality throughout the U.S. Midwest. In some areas, air-quality indexes have reached levels deemed "very unhealthy," prompting widespread advisories. Reducing vehicle emissions can help mitigate ozone formation during such alerts. Residents are encouraged to limit driving, avoid refueling vehicles during daylight hours, and postpone the use of gasoline-powered equipment. To reduce pollution and protect public health, it is recommended to avoid gas stations during air-quality alerts or refueling in the evening, when ozone formation is less likely. As reported by Newsweek, at least two people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Canada as a result of the blazes. WDNU reported that the following cities in Indiana will be most affected by the air quality: North Central Indiana: Including the cities of Elkhart, Goshen, Knox, Logansport, Plymouth, Peru, South Bend, Warsaw, Winamac, and all other cities within the area. Northeast Indiana: Including the cities of: Angola, Auburn, Decatur, Fort Wayne, Hartford, Huntington City, LaGrange, Marion, Portland, Wabash and all other cities within the area. Northwest Indiana: Including the cities of: Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Kentland, LaPorte, Michigan City, Portage, Rensselaer, Valparaiso, and all other cities within the area. IDEM has issued some recommended actions that the public can take. These include: Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation. Avoid using the drive-through and combine errands into one trip. Avoid refueling your vehicle or using gasoline-powered lawn equipment until after 7 p.m. Turn off your engine when idling for more than 30 seconds. Conserve energy by turning off lights or setting the air conditioner to 75 degrees Fahrenheit or above. A National Weather Service (NWS) air quality alert said that fine particulate levels are expected to be in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should limit prolonged outdoor exposure. What People Are Saying The American Lung Association warns that wildfire smoke poses significant health risks, especially for children, older adults, and individuals with respiratory conditions. They recommend staying indoors, using air purifiers, and keeping windows closed to reduce exposure. The American Lung Association stated on its website: "Areas throughout the Midwest, including parts of Indiana, will see their air quality impacted by smoke from wildfires burning in Canada this weekend. The smoke is prompting several communities to issue air-quality alerts. "It is unhealthy to breathe and can be especially harmful to sensitive groups, including children, older adults, and people with lung diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease." What Happens Next Residents are advised to monitor local air-quality reports and take necessary precautions to protect their health during this period of elevated pollution.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Jersey wildfire grows to 12,000 acres as officials warn flames will likely rage for days
BARNEGAT, N.J. — The Jones Road Wildfire could be one of the worst wildfires that New Jersey has seen in years after it torched at least 12,000 acres in less than a day, officials said, warning that the flames could rage for days. About 5,000 residents were forced to flee the fast-moving flames of the wildfire that sparked Tuesday in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area near Barnegat Township in Ocean County. They have since been given the all-clear to return home, but officials urged people to remain vigilant as thick smoke continues to choke communities close to the Jersey Shore. As of Wednesday afternoon, flames had consumed about 12,000 acres and were 35% contained. "We fully expect that number will grow, that we will see, ultimately, when all is said and done, a greater number of acreage affected, and this could very well end up being the largest wildfire in New Jersey in 20 years," Commissioner of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Shawn Latourette said. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued an Air Quality Action Day for Wednesday, advising older and young residents to limit strenuous activities and outdoor time. Emergency management and Red Cross teams are handing out N95 masks at the Barnegat Township Recreation Center. At a news conference Wednesday, officials warned that the wildfire is still not under control and that it could continue to burn into the upcoming weekend. They added that there have been no injuries or deaths so far, and no single-family homes have been destroyed. However, the blaze scorched at least one commercial structure and several other outbuildings. The situation could have been far worse, however, as officials said more than 1,300 homes were being threatened by the flames. "It was a dangerous wildfire, moving quickly. It's pretty extreme conditions right now," said New Jersey Division Forest Fire Warden Trevor Raynor. "April 20th is about the peak of spring fire season." New Jersey Acting Gov. Tahesha Way declared a state of emergency in Ocean County that went into effect Wednesday morning. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne was in Lacey Township on Wednesday and spoke with Mayor Peter Curatolo, who said that a business in town was destroyed. "This was one of our great businesses, and our industrial park is where it happened," Curatolo said on FOX Weather. "This is really heartbreaking. You can see the devastation. You don't need me to explain it to you." Curatolo said that there was a shelter set up for evacuated residents, which lost power as flames were tearing through the community. "I had informed seniors in there," he said. "I had people with specialized medical needs, and I knew that we were ill-equipped. But for the surrounding mayors … all of them worked together, and we were able to get our residents out of that shelter with no power, no cots, no nurses, no meds. And we were able to bring them to where all those provisions were." The Jones Road Wildfire was discovered about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, and resources were immediately dispatched, fire officials said. However, the initial fire attack failed due to the erratic fire behavior. The fire then exploded in size to where it stands today. Raynor said the drought coupled wth low humidity, winds and sunny weather made it a difficult firefight. The busy Garden State Parkway was fully reopened early Wednesday morning after the dangerous conditions in the area forced officials to shut down a 17-mile stretch while the fire raged. Photos shared by the Garden State Parkway showed smoke covering the highway and flames nearing the road earlier Tuesday. Barnegat Police advised residents to plan an alternate travel route to work for the Wednesday commute. Jersey Central Power & Light (JCPL) cut power along the Garden State Parkway due to the wildfire, according to the Barnegat Police Department. As of Wednesday, more than 9,000 customers were without power in Ocean County, according to When the shutoffs occurred on Tuesday, more than 25,000 were without power. JCPL teams are checking equipment on Wednesday to begin restoring service. Barnegat police said most customers in the township should have their power back Wednesday evening. The cause of the Jones Road Wildfire is under investigation. Drought levels in Ocean County are abnormally dry to moderate, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but have been worsening over the past week. Nearly 80% of the Garden State is facing some level of drought.
Newsweek
23-04-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
Officials Warn 70,000 People in New Jersey Against Going Outside
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Officials in New Jersey have issued an air quality alert for Atlantic City and surrounding areas as a massive wildfire continues to rage across Ocean County, blanketing parts of the state in smoke. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) declared an Air Quality Action Day for Fine Particulates on Wednesday, urging residents—especially those with respiratory conditions—to remain indoors as unhealthy conditions persist. The warning area impacts roughly 70,000 people. Why It Matters The alert, effective until midnight, follows the explosive spread of the Jones Road wildfire, which has burned through roughly 8,500 acres in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. The fire, first reported Tuesday, rapidly expanded because of dry conditions and high winds, prompting a state of emergency and forcing thousands to evacuate. Officials are emphasizing the public health impact of the fire, particularly for vulnerable populations. What to Know The NJDEP issued the air quality alert on Wednesday morning as Atlantic City and surrounding areas were experiencing unhealthy air quality levels, in which the Air Quality Index (AQI) falls between 151 and 200. A map from AirNow shows where unhealthy air quality, depicted in red, is currently impacting people in New Jersey. A map from AirNow shows where unhealthy air quality, depicted in red, is currently impacting people in New Jersey. AirNow "Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects," U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website AirNow said about unhealthy air quality. A spokesperson with NJDEP referred Newsweek to an alert about the poor air quality when reached for comment. "Sensitive individuals, including those with heart or lung disease, the elderly, and the young should limit strenuous activities and the amount of time active outdoors," the alert said. Unseasonably warm temperatures are exacerbating the situation, with light winds pushing the smoke southward, the alert said. "Following the peripheral of high pressure, winds are expected to rotate in clockwise direction, eventually becoming southeasterly, aiding in the development of a sea breeze and potentially shifting smoke transportation northward," the forecast said. "By evening, a surface trough is expected to develop, which may cause residual smoke aloft to transport towards the surface. Light winds are expected to prevail, potentially keeping transport levels low and aiding in containment of the wildfire." The New Jersey Forest Fire Service said the fire was 30 percent contained as of Wednesday morning. What People Are Saying The New Jersey air quality alert sent to Newsweek: "Smoke from a large active wildfire in Ocean County, specifically Ocean and Lacey Townships, is causing current local levels to reach the unhealthy for sensitive groups (USG) category, with isolated areas reaching the unhealthy category." Fox 29 anchor Bob Kelly posted on X, formerly Twitter: "HEALTH ALERT. Smoke from the forest fire heading south along the Jersey shoreline from Long Beach Island all the way to Cape May. This is video from Brigantine. Keep your windows and doors closed, and anyone with asthma should definitely stay inside." What Happens Next An air quality official told Newsweek that the NJDEP is monitoring the situation and will update the alert if necessary. Rain is expected this weekend, which could improve the air quality. Residents across New Jersey are advised to stay updated via AirNow for real-time air quality readings and continue taking precautions as advised by local health authorities.
