Residents across Hopewell Valley woke up Friday to some of the worst air quality seen in the region in years as smoke from hundreds of active wildfires burning in Canada continued to blanket New Jersey.
Air quality deteriorated overnight, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing above 200 in the early morning hours — a level considered “very unhealthy” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. By about 5 a.m., monitoring stations in the region were reporting AQI readings exceeding 200, driven by fine particulate matter (PM2.5), the tiny particles in wildfire smoke that can penetrate deep into the lungs.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Red Air Quality Alert for Mercer and Middlesex counties through midnight Friday.
A Code Red alert means air pollution concentrations are considered unhealthy for everyone, not just people with underlying health conditions. Officials recommend avoiding strenuous outdoor activity or exercise until conditions improve.
Smoke from the Canadian wildfires began moving into the region Thursday, prompting Hopewell Township and other Mercer County municipalities to alert residents as skies grew increasingly hazy throughout the day. Conditions worsened overnight before reaching their poorest levels early Friday morning.
Health officials urge residents to limit time outdoors
The primary pollutant affecting the area is PM2.5, microscopic particles produced by wildfire smoke.
According to the EPA and NJDEP, people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers should avoid physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should limit strenuous outdoor exercise, keep outdoor activities brief when possible, and consider moving workouts or recreational activities indoors.
Residents experiencing symptoms such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or irritation of the eyes should reduce exposure and seek medical advice if symptoms become severe.
Improvement expected later Friday
Forecasters expect conditions to gradually improve later Friday as winds shift and begin pushing the thickest smoke away from the region.
While air quality is expected to improve into Friday evening and overnight, officials encourage residents to continue monitoring forecasts, as wildfire smoke can change quickly depending on wind direction and atmospheric conditions.
The Air Quality Alert remains in effect until midnight Friday night.
Residents can monitor current conditions through the EPA’s AirNow website or the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s air quality monitoring system.
