Smoke from Canadian wildfires is causing air quality in the north and eastern United States to deteriorate rapidly, leading to air alerts in twenty states.
AirNow, a governmental website that monitors air pollutants, reported that the situation extends from Montana to New York, and down to Alabama.
The wildfires are also causing concerns in Canada, where federal troops have been mobilized to confront new fires in the west of the country. Tragically, two Canadian firefighters have already lost their lives trying to control the flames.
Major cities in Canada, such as Calgary, Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, have received warnings from health officials about medium to high smoke risk. New York officials, meanwhile, have urged citizens to stay indoors, though they predict conditions will not be as severe as those from last month when fires turned the sky orange.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen above 150 in several cities, signifying “unhealthy for everyone” air conditions. Regions exceeding this AQI value included areas in Ohio, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland, Alabama, and Pennsylvania, as per the IQAir tracker website.
While US officials expect the smoke to start clearing on the east coast by Tuesday, the conditions are likely to worsen in Maine and certain southern regions, including Atlanta.
In related news, health officials in British Columbia announced that a nine-year-old asthmatic boy’s death might be associated with the wildfire smoke. The BC Coroners Service described the unexpected death as a tragic loss for his family and community.
Climate change is exacerbating the situation, as it increases the likelihood of hot, dry weather conditions that fuel wildfires.
