Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Despite wildfire smoke creating some potentially hazardous air quality levels across Western New York on Thursday, a number of people in the region still made a point to get outside and brave the elements, at least for a brief period of time.
For Kathy from Orchard Park, she was happy the conditions were good enough early to get in some tennis action at Chestnut Ridge with some friends.
"We actually played an hour-and-a-half, so we were still good. A couple of girls did drop out because they have lung issues, but the rest of us are good. So we we're out and about," said Kathy in an interview with WBEN.
Same goes for Steve from Hamburg, who was joined by a group of friends playing pickleball on the courts next to Kathy.
"We've had the smoke from Canadian fires before, but I don't remember it ever being quite this intense around here. But we're being smart," Steve said with WBEN. "I mean, we're alternating playing, not playing more than two games in-a-row. So as long as nobody's got some kind of congestive failures or whatever, we're doing OK."
For Kurt from North Collins, it was important to get out and train for the upcoming Buffalo Subaru 4 Mile Chase one more time.
"The smoke has definitely been a little bit of a challenge, but after a warm up, you kind of get used to it," said Kurt with WBEN. "And today seems better than yesterday. A little bit of breeze here at the Ridge, and we had a good four or five mile run."
As for Peggy from Clarence, she wanted to quickly get out for a walk with her daughter visiting from North Carolina.
"Actually, it's a little bit cooler than it was projected to be because of the smoke. It's taken some of the sunshine out," said Peggy in an interview with WBEN. "We're not out very long, though. We're just going to take a walk down, get a picture of the dog with Shark Girl, and then we're headed back home for inside."
While wildfire smoke hasn't been much of anything new for the region over the past few summers, some admit it is a bit surprising at how much these wildfires have taken its toll on the air quality.
"I've lived here all my life, and I don't remember having this many days with poor air quality because of the fires from up in Canada," Kathy said. "I think maybe a lot of it has to do with global warming, and the fires up in Canada and wherever else. It's so dry."
"We're seeing a lot more wildfires, not just up in Canada, but through the Southwest. Winter down in Florida, they've had wildfires, where it's always very humid. So it's surprising," Peggy added. "Haziness doesn't bother me too much, because Buffalo does get hazy during these summers. But it's a little disappointing. I think there would be a lot more people out here at Canalside if the weather was a little better from the smoke."
For others, though, the air quality issues don't come as much of a surprise.
"They might be getting more intense, but we've always run through this once a summer. It seems like the Canadians let the fires get a little out of control, but it's OK," Steve said.
"I grew up in the '70s, where there was industrial pollution, which was worse than this. Basically, this is a big campfire. It looks bad, but I think health-wise, it's probably not as bad as you might think," Kurt added.
Western New York remains under an air quality alert through the entirety of Thursday.
