The Climate Emergency is Here – Preparing for Summer Wildfire Smoke

Just as we cannot predict with 100% certainty that our region will be affected by a large scale blizzard, we cannot say for certain that our region will be affected by wildfire smoke as much as we were last year – but what we can say is that the Climate Emergency is here, now, and that we need to prepare for wildfire smoke emergencies just as much as we do for any potential weather emergency.

Our region has already begun to be affected by wildfire smoke this year, and will likely continue to be to some degree throughout the summer.

Here are several resources to bookmark or download to prep and protect your household.

All these links are also found at https://linktr.ee/cleanairwny to easily share with your peers.

• Air Monitors
  • NYS DEC’s air monitors, periodic readings throughout the day – http://www.nyaqinow.net/
  • Buffalo’s official Air Quality Index, daily average – https://www.airnow.gov/?city=Buffalo&state=NY&country=USA
  • All NYS DEC region’s AQI, daily average – https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/cfmx/extapps/aqi/aqi_forecast.cfm
  • PurpleAir’s live map – https://map.purpleair.com/1/mAQI/a10/p604800/cC0#9.14/42.953/-78.9253
  • World Air Pollution live map, includes PurpleAir, government monitors, and other consumer monitors – https://waqi.info/#/c/41.245/-71.848/6.5z
• North American Wildfire Smoke Maps
  • Canadian – https://firesmoke.ca/forecasts/current/
  • United States – https://fire.airnow.gov/
• Weather Maps
  • Wind Map, live – https://www.windy.com/?43.310,-78.555,9
  • Weather Channel for the Buffalo area
  • National Weather Service Buffalo Forecast Discussion (tip, use “ctrl-f” and search for “smoke”) –
• Protect Your Household from Wildfire Smoke
  • Instructions for how to create a DIY Air Purifier for under $50.
    • We have a few extra MERV 13 furnace filters at our office if cost is a barrier – contact one of our organizers for more info.
  • Instructions for how to create a clean room
  • Wear a mask when the AQI is poor – the same masks that will provide some degree of  protection from respiratory diseases like COVID will also provide some limited degree of protection from smoke as compared to no mask at all.
    • We have a limited stock of N-95 and surgical masks available at our office – contact one of our organizers for more info.

Take Action

As advocates for environmental justice, we believe in taking action not only to protect ourselves and our community against the acute harms of climate change and extractive industries, but also to take action to combat the core causes for the climate crisis and fight for a Just Transition, which is one of the reasons Clean Air is a member of NY Renews and supports the Climate, Jobs and Justice bill package.

Our NY representatives from Western New York need to hear from you, because they are hearing from fossil fuel interests – take a moment to send a note in favor of the NY Heat Act and the Climate Superfund Act. The 2024 session is scheduled to end June 6.

• Via Renewable Heat Now – Cleaner Heat, Lower Bills: Help Pass the NY HEAT Act!
• Via NYPIRG – Tell Governor Hochul to support the Climate Change Superfund Act!

If you are interested in getting further engaged with NY Renews through the Clean Air Coalition, please email Bridge.