New York: Canada’s forests are burning in smoke. There is the worst fire ever in the forests. The fire has spread over an area of 33 thousand square km. Crores of animals and birds have died due to the fire and a large number of humans have also had to leave their homes. Smoke from Canadian wildfires spread across the US East Coast and Midwest on Wednesday, halting flights at major airports and postponing Major League Baseball games.
Canadian officials have asked for additional help from other countries. Air with dangerous levels of pollution extended across the New York metropolitan area, central New York State, and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Massive amounts of contaminated air spread as far as North Carolina and Indiana, affecting millions of people. The air quality index crossed 400.
Canadian officials say this is shaping up to be the country’s worst wildfire season ever. Fire and environmental officials said it started on drier ground than usual and escalated very quickly, which exhausted firefighting resources in the country. Smoke is spreading over America from different parts of the country. The smoke was so thick in downtown Ottawa, Canada’s capital, that office towers across the Ottawa River were barely visible.
America sent help
Jennifer Kamau, spokeswoman for the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, said more than 950 firefighters and other personnel from the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have arrived and more are expected soon.
In Washington, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has sent more than 600 firefighters and equipment to Canada. He said his administration has contacted some US governors and local officials to provide assistance.
Apart from New York, strong smell of smoke, dark skies and breathlessness caught the attention of residents in other cities and towns from Maryland to New Hampshire, reporting low visibility and hazy skies.
Monday afternoon vs. Wednesday afternoon in NYC as Canadian wildfire smoke chokes the city.https://t.co/tRGSasZ8gi
📷 EarthCam pic.twitter.com/PZuRFEFNqP
— NBC News (@NBCNews) June 7, 2023
Possibility of light rain
Some rain fell in eastern Quebec on Wednesday, but Simon Legault, a meteorologist with Montreal-based Environment Canada, said no significant rain is expected for days in remote areas of central Quebec, where the wildfires are more intense
Jack Taylor, a meteorologist with the US National Weather Service, said the current weather pattern in the central and eastern US is essentially funneling smoke. He said some rain late this week or early next week should help clear the air somewhat in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.