The masks may block particles fairly well, but the fire vapors will get past the mask.
Wait for the wind direction to keep smoke out of your area before venturing out.
My backyard smells like burning firewood.
Sky kind of yellow.
All New York is dealing with is the particles. They are not in the midst of fires, so no vapors, etc. This isn’t like running into a burning building, this is simply being downstream of the smoke and ash.
“The masks may block particles fairly well, but the fire vapors will get past the mask.”
The “vapors” from fires are concentrated only the nearer to the fire you are and less concentrated the further from the fire you are. They are lighter than fire-dustin particles, rise more easily in the atmosphere and get reduced in concerntration by the aircurrents scattering everything. The “vapors” are not a problem in most of the U.S. northeast or further into the U.S. than that. Smoke is not a “vapor”. It is a very fine solid, as a residue of burning, and similar to “dust”.
Thank you for a reasoned response. So many silly asses around here that it floods out the gems like yours.