Smoke produced by more than 800 wildfires that remain active in Canada has significantly reduced air quality across large areas of Canada and the United States.
US authorities have issued air pollution warnings in several states, advising residents to remain indoors.
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Data from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System show that 858 fires are active. They include 30 new fires reported on Thursday, while the majority remain out of control.
The US National Weather Service (NOAA) said that air quality alerts extend across the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast of the country.
The Air Quality Index has classified pollution as “hazardous” in several areas of Michigan and Minnesota. Meanwhile, air quality in western New York State has been rated “very unhealthy,” while levels in the New York City metropolitan area have been classified as “unhealthy.”
Major fires in northwestern Ontario have created thick smoke plumes that have blanketed cities such as Thunder Bay and Toronto. Air currents have carried the smoke across the Great Lakes to New York, causing dense haze and limiting visibility.
In New York City, authorities have expanded emergency measures due to the heat wave and air pollution. Hundreds of cooling centers have been made available to residents, while KN95 protective masks have also been distributed to reduce exposure to smoke particles.
Meteorologists expect rain and storms in Ontario in the coming days, but they are not expected to be sufficient to have a significant impact on extinguishing the fires.
Over the weekend, northwesterly winds are expected to continue carrying the smoke toward northern US states. This has also raised concerns about air quality in New Jersey, where the World Cup final will be played. A change in wind direction early next week is expected to bring a gradual improvement in conditions south of the border.
According to Swiss company IQAir, Detroit currently has the worst air quality in the world. It is followed by Minneapolis, Chicago and Toronto.
