New Jersey Wildfire Is Spreading Hazardous Smoke to These Cities, Causing Breathing Issues
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07224148/smoke-map-4.23-150x150.pngOn Tuesday morning, authorities discovered a small fire burning in the Pine Barrens section of New Jersey. By Wednesday, the swift wildfire had spread to 11,500 acres, forcing a shutdown of a 17-mile stretch of the Garden State Parkway as well as the evacuation of 3,000 residents.
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While fire crews are working to contain the blaze, dangerous smoke is forecast to spread throughout the Tri-State area. Smoke concentration is forecast to reach 20.1 micrograms per cubic meter of air in New York City by Friday, about one-sixth of the levels reached during the Canadian wildfires of 2023. For a few days this week, a stretch of cities from the Jersey Shore to Long Island will have the worst smoke concentration of any part of the country. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where the NJ wildfire will worsen air quality the most.
To determine the cities where wildfires are making the air dangerous to breathe, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on smoke forecasts and wildfires from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on maximum forecast smoke concentration from April 23 to April 25, 2025. Only cities downwind from uncontained wildfires at least 2,000 acres in size as of April 23, 2025 were included. Supplemental data on total value of owner-occupied real estate and total population by city are from the U.S. Census Bureau.
25. Long Beach, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.7 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $6.0 billion
- Total population: 34,734
24. East Meadow, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $6.0 billion
- Total population: 36,856
23. Oceanside, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.2 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $6.8 billion
- Total population: 31,488
22. Hicksville, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.6 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $6.8 billion
- Total population: 44,084
21. Baldwin, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.6 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $5.0 billion
- Total population: 33,776
20. Rockville Centre, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 18.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $5.7 billion
- Total population: 25,784
19. Perth Amboy, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.2 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $2.2 billion
- Total population: 55,226
18. Hempstead, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.5 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $3.1 billion
- Total population: 58,557
17. Uniondale, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 19.9 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $3.2 billion
- Total population: 33,192
16. Sayreville, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 20.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $4.4 billion
- Total population: 45,136
15. New York, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 20.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $1.1 trillion
- Total population: 8,622,467
14. Yonkers, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 21.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $19.4 billion
- Total population: 209,780
13. Port Chester, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 21.6 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $2.6 billion
- Total population: 31,288
12. Harrison, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 21.7 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $7.3 billion
- Total population: 28,721
11. White Plains, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 22.2 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $8.4 billion
- Total population: 59,421
10. Mount Vernon, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 24.0 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $5.5 billion
- Total population: 72,817
9. Franklin Square, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 24.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $5.1 billion
- Total population: 31,969
8. Valley Stream, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 24.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $5.5 billion
- Total population: 40,288
7. New Rochelle, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 25.7 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $11.5 billion
- Total population: 80,828
6. Glen Cove, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 26.1 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $4.4 billion
- Total population: 28,132
5. Elmont, NY
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 26.9 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $4.2 billion
- Total population: 37,866
4. Toms River, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 33.5 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $11.2 billion
- Total population: 92,827
3. Old Bridge, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 43.5 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $3.4 billion
- Total population: 28,094
2. Lakewood, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 48.5 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $3.4 billion
- Total population: 68,555
1. Long Branch, NJ
- Maximum smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 86.0 µg/m³
- Total value of all homes: $3.2 billion
- Total population: 31,932
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