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🇦🇺 Australia /Disasters & Emergencies

Canadian wildfire smoke blankets US, prompting health warnings

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Hundreds of wildfires in Canada have caused heavy smoke to blanket large parts of the US, leading to health warnings and hazardous air quality.
  • Cities like Detroit registered the worst air quality globally, with ten states reporting unhealthy levels of pollutants.
  • Officials are advising residents to stay indoors, wear masks, and limit outdoor exposure due to the severe smoke.

Wildfire smoke from Canada has choked parts of the United States, blanketing areas from the Great Lakes to the East Coast in a thick haze. Health officials issued urgent warnings, advising residents to stay indoors and wear masks to avoid the acrid, unhealthy air.

Today is expected to be the worst day of this event.

— Zohran MamdaniNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaking at a gathering on Thursday.

Detroit recorded the world's worst air quality on Thursday, with pollutant levels twice the "hazardous" threshold set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Federal data revealed dangerous smoke levels across Minnesota, Michigan, northern Illinois, northern Ohio, and into Ontario, Canada. Ten US states reported at least some locations with "unhealthy" air quality readings.

In New York City, a dense orange and yellow haze obscured the skyline, prompting authorities to encourage people to spend minimal time outdoors. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that "unhealthy" levels mean everyone, not just those with pre-existing conditions, could experience health effects. The city distributed free KN95 masks at various public facilities.

At 'unhealthy' levels, everyone, not just people with asthma or heart conditions, not just older adults, everyone may feel health effects. So today, every New Yorker should take precautions.

— Zohran MamdaniNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani explaining the health risks of the smoke.

Residents expressed concern about the air quality. "Who wants to be breathing this? It's not healthy," said Gwen Moseley, a therapist who picked up a mask in Queens. Bill Ostrowski, walking through downtown Chicago, noted, "It stinks. It's not a good sign when you wake up in the morning and you can smell the air."

Who wants to be breathing this? It's not healthy.

— Gwen MoseleyGwen Moseley, a resident in Queens, New York, expressing her concern about the air quality.

As of Thursday morning, 858 fires were burning across Canada, with 111 considered out of control, primarily in the central provinces. "It's basically a river of smoke pouring into the Midwest right now," said Emily Fischer, an atmospheric chemist at Colorado State University, describing the scale of the event.

When I'm out walking, I can feel the scratchiness in my throat.

— Gwen MoseleyGwen Moseley describing the physical effects of the smoke.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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