By Zoila Palma: Smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada has blanketed major cities across both Canada and the United States, prompting widespread air quality alerts and forcing the cancellation of outdoor events, BBC reports.
More than 800 wildfires are currently burning across Canada, with most of them out of control. Thick smoke has reduced visibility in cities including Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York, and across New England, as officials warned residents to remain indoors due to hazardous air conditions.
In Canada, one wildfire in northern Ontario forced the evacuation of several First Nations communities, with one local chief describing her community as having been “burnt to ashes.”
According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, there are currently 858 active wildfires, including 30 new fires that ignited on Thursday. The largest cluster of fires in northwestern Ontario has sent dense smoke across Ontario and into the Great Lakes region, affecting air quality far beyond Canada’s borders.
Authorities across the northeastern United States have responded by issuing hazardous air quality alerts and activating emergency measures. New York Governor Kathy Hochul warned that thick smoke was blanketing much of the state, making it unsafe to spend extended periods outdoors.
New York has expanded its heat emergency plans, opened hundreds of cooling centers, and distributed KN95 masks, while many outdoor events, including children’s summer camp activities, beach outings, and a Chicago concert by The Black Keys, were cancelled or postponed.
The post International News: Canadian wildfires trigger air quality alerts across Northeastern United States appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Smoke from hundreds of active wildfires in Canada has blanketed major cities across both Canada and the United States, prompting widespread air quality alerts and forcing the cancellation of outdoor events, BBC reports. More than 800 wildfires are currently burning across Canada, with most of them out of control. Thick smoke has
The post International News: Canadian wildfires trigger air quality alerts across Northeastern United States appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
