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Canadian wildfire smoke blankets US cities, causing hazardous air quality
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Disasters & Emergencies

Canadian wildfire smoke blankets US cities, causing hazardous air quality

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Thick haze from Canadian wildfires blankets parts of the United States, causing dangerous air quality for millions.
  • Cities like Chicago and Detroit experienced severe pollution, with New York also reporting high levels.
  • Authorities urged residents to limit outdoor activities, while New York City provided free masks and cooling centers.

Manhattan's skies turned a thick gray and Chicago closed its beaches on Thursday as uncontrolled wildfires in Canada sent heavy smoke across the border into the United States. Millions of Americans faced hazardous air quality.

Several U.S. states near the Canadian border, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois, experienced severe air pollution. The northeastern region, including New York, also saw air quality deteriorate significantly. By Thursday afternoon, IQAir monitoring showed Chicago and Detroit as two of the most polluted cities globally, with New York also recording high pollution levels.

New York City was shrouded in dense smoke containing unhealthy fine particles, according to state authorities. The situation was worse in central and western New York. Officials advised residents to reduce outdoor activities. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned of serious threats from the combination of extreme heat and air pollution. Libraries and train stations offered free masks, and hundreds of cooling centers opened across the city for those without air conditioning.

"This could potentially be the most serious haze episode in New York City since 2023, and conditions will be closely monitored for further deterioration," stated the New York City Emergency Management Department. In 2023, the city's sky turned orange with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a dangerous level of 465.

Meanwhile, Toronto in Canada also faced hazardous air quality as over 130 wildfires remained active in northwestern Ontario. At least 60 fires were uncontrolled. Provincial authorities officially requested additional federal assistance, including air support, to evacuate residents from remote communities. Ontario Provincial Police reported that 15 communities and their surrounding areas had been evacuated so far.

This could potentially be the most serious haze episode in New York City since 2023, and conditions will be closely monitored for further deterioration.

— New York City Emergency Management DepartmentThe department's statement on the severity of the haze episode and ongoing monitoring.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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