In Newark, Wildfire Smoke Piled Onto An Air Pollution Problem Decades In The Making

A week of hazardous air pushed the city’s asthma rates and pollution into view, and community advocates say Newark needs a real plan before the next smoke event arrives.

By: Sydney Salomon

Outlets: New Jersey Urban News

Published: July 30, 2026

Words: 1,799

Last Updated: 3 days, 23 hours ago

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By: Sydney Salomon, Report for America

When smoke from Canada’s wildfires blanketed the Northeast in mid-July, Melissa Miles noticed something unsettling: Newark continued much as usual. Children attended summer camp, joggers ran through the haze and outdoor pools remained open, even as the air quality worsened.

Miles had spent years raising her family in Newark’s East Ward before moving to Summit in 2020 after concerns about asthma and air quality. Although she no longer …

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