Haze moves through the Midwest while New York City avoids the worst for now

The air quality index in western New York hit 125 Thursday morning, meaning it was considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, including children and people who are pregnant or have lung disease, asthma or heart disease. The air quality index in Central New York came in at 189, which is considered unhealthy for all groups.

“It’s still appropriate for most people in the city to enjoy the outdoors today,” Jackie Bray, the commissioner of the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Service, said at the news conference. “That’s not true in the state.”

Throughout western New York, some people said they were unaffected by the smoke, while others changed their plans because of it.

Zackary Martin, 22, of Springville, NY, southeast of Buffalo, said he chose not to hike his favorite trail because of the poor air quality. “It made me reevaluate my plans for the entire week,” he said.

And in the food court of the Walden Galleria mall, in Cheektowaga, a suburb of Buffalo, Lakisha Tyson said that although she and her two children, who are 16 and 7, had no health problems affecting their breathing, she had decided to impossible. to take them to the park.

“It’s not a good smell; it’s a poisonous smell,’ said Ms. Tyson, 39, from Rochester. “You must wear a mask.”

Jesse McKinley, Lola Fadulu,Dan Bilefsky, Michael Wines, Lauren D’Avolio, Campbell Robertson, Carrie Blackmore Smith and Ida Lieszkovszky contributed reporting