06/29/2023 6:16 pm (act. 06/29/2023 06:20 pm)
Smoke rises over Washington ©APA/GETTY
Persistent wildfires in Canada are affecting nearly a third of all Americans. Authorities on Thursday urged more than 100 million US citizens to limit outdoor activities and wear a mask if they have breathing or lung problems. Children and seniors are advised to reduce or avoid strenuous activities.
According to the National Weather Service, plumes of smoke from the Canadian wildfires are moving from Wisconsin and northern Illinois via Michigan to New York and the east coast. Bad air quality warnings apply until midnight (local time). In big cities like New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, the sky can be overcast all day, with the smell of burning in the air at times. “Take precautions on Thursday. If you have any health concerns, including breathing problems such as asthma, limit your time outdoors,” New York Mayor Eric Adams tweeted.
Canada is battling the worst wildfires on record. A forest area of eight million hectares has already been set on fire. On Wednesday, firefighters counted 477 fires. Half of them were considered out of control.