New York City air quality deteriorates for over 20M as smoke from New Jersey wildfire chokes skies
New York state's departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County and Long Island.
Watch: Smoky sunrise in NYC as New Jersey wildfire smoke drifts in
A smoky, orange sunrise greeted Staten Island, New York, on Thursday morning as smoke from the Jones Road Fire in southern New Jersey drifted into New York City. This has triggered an air quality alert for all five boroughs and Long Island.
NEW YORK – Smoke from a massive wildfire burning in New Jersey reached New York City early Thursday, impacting air quality in America's largest city.
New York state's departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County and Long Island, covering more than 20 million people.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: The sun sets near the Statue of Liberty amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.
(Adam Gray / Getty Images)
The Jones Road Fire erupted Tuesday afternoon in Ocean County, New Jersey. In just a few hours, it tripled in size, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes. Those people have since been allowed to return home as the fire moves away from population centers.
The smoke created a hazy orange sunrise over Staten Island on Thursday morning.
![]()
Image 1 of 18NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: A view of the State of Liberty after sunset amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Smoke from a large wildfire in New Jersey drifted into New York City early Thursday, affecting air quality across the nation's most populous city. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island — a region home to over 20 million residents.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) ( )
![]()
Image 2 of 18NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: People gather by the water with the Statue of Liberty in the background at sunset amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Smoke from a large wildfire in New Jersey drifted into New York City early Thursday, affecting air quality across the nation's most populous city. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island — a region home to over 20 million residents.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) ( )
![]()
Image 3 of 18NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: One World Trade Center and the Lower Manhattan skyline are seen amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Smoke from a large wildfire in New Jersey drifted into New York City early Thursday, affecting air quality across the nation's most populous city. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island — a region home to over 20 million residents.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) ( )
![]()
Image 4 of 18NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: People look at the Statue of Liberty at sunset amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Smoke from a large wildfire in New Jersey drifted into New York City early Thursday, affecting air quality across the nation's most populous city. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island — a region home to over 20 million residents.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) ( )
![New Jersey Wildfire Smoke]()
Image 5 of 18FORKED RIVER, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 24: A flock of birds fly past the rising sun shrouded in smoke from a wildfire on April 24, 2025, in Oyster Creek, New Jersey. (Adam Gray)
![]()
Image 6 of 18NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 24: One World Trade Center and the Lower Manhattan skyline are seen amid air quality alerts caused by the New Jersey wildfire on April 24, 2025 in the Staten Island borough of New York City. Smoke from a large wildfire in New Jersey drifted into New York City early Thursday, affecting air quality across the nation's most populous city. The New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health have issued Air Quality Health Advisories for New York City, Westchester County, Rockland County, and Long Island — a region home to over 20 million residents.(Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images) ( )
![New Jersey Wildfire Smoke]()
Image 7 of 18FORKED RIVER, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 24: A television crew is shrouded in the smoke from a wildfire on April 24, 2025, in Forked River, New Jersey. (Adam Gray)
![New Jersey Wildfire Smoke]()
Image 8 of 18FORKED RIVER, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 24: Vegetation smoulders as television crews report nearby a destroyed business from a wildfire on April 24, 2025, in Forked River, New Jersey. (Photo by /Getty Images) (Adam Gray)
![New Jersey Wildfire Smoke]()
Image 9 of 18FORKED RIVER, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 24: The sun rises shrouded in smoke from a wildfire on April 24, 2025, in Forked River, New Jersey. (Adam Gray)
![New Jersey Wildfire]()
Image 10 of 18New Jersey Wildfire (Via KYW-TV)
![Jones Road Fire in New Jersey]()
Image 11 of 18The Jones Road Wildfire burns in New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection/TMX)
![Jones Road Fire in New Jersey]()
Image 12 of 18The Jones Road Wildfire burns in New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection/TMX)
![This image shows the flames from the Jones Road Wildfire burning in Ocean County, New Jersey, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.]()
Image 13 of 18This image shows the flames from the Jones Road Wildfire burning in Ocean County, New Jersey, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. ( )
![Jones Road Fire in New Jersey]()
Image 14 of 18The Jones Road Wildfire burns in New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection/TMX)
![Jones Road Fire in New Jersey]()
Image 15 of 18The Jones Road Wildfire burns in New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection/TMX)
![Smoke from the Jones Fire seen from Sunrise Beach in Lacey Township, New Jersey on April 22, 2025.]()
Image 16 of 18Smoke from the Jones Fire seen from Sunrise Beach in Lacey Township, New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (@Pjfriend/X)
![Smoke from the Jones Fire seen from Sunrise Beach in Lacey Township, New Jersey on April 22, 2025.]()
Image 17 of 18Smoke from the Jones Fire seen from Sunrise Beach in Lacey Township, New Jersey on April 22, 2025. (@Pjfriend/X)
![Seaside Park, New Jersey Station 45 and Engine 4521 operating in Waretown at the scene of the Jones Road Wildfire on April 22, 2025.]()
Image 18 of 18Seaside Park, New Jersey Station 45 and Engine 4521 operating in Waretown at the scene of the Jones Road Wildfire on April 22, 2025. (Seaside Park Volunteer Fire Co.)
New Jersey declared an Air Quality Action Day on Wednesday for most of the state of nearly 10 million. Groups with sensitive respiratory conditions were told to limit outdoor activities.
On Wednesday, northerly winds were pushing wildfire smoke south into Atlantic City and surrounding areas.
Winds switched directions early Thursday morning and began pushing smoke north towards the New York City metro area.
NEW JERSEY WILDFIRE: DRAMATIC VIDEOS, PHOTOS REVEAL FEARSOME NATURE OF FAST-MOVING FLAMES
(FOX Weather)
In 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires turned the sky an apocalyptic shade of orange in New York, blocking the sun in a bright haze.
Air quality was greatly impacted and set records for the worst air quality ever recorded.
Orange skies caused by wildfire smoke from Canada are seen over Times Square in New York City on June 7, 2023.
(Pam Ng / FOX Weather)
Smoke from the Jones Road fire will likely impact parts of Pennsylvania and Connecticut as well.