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28-07-2025
OTTAWA/ NEW YORK: An air quality health advisory has been issued for New York City and its surrounding areas because of smoke from wildfires in Canada.
In a post on social media, New York state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Health (DOH) issued the advisory for Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Upper Hudson Valley and the Adirondacks on Saturday.
Authorities are warning air quality in those regions is “unhealthy for sensitive groups”.
Wildfires in Canada have forced tens of thousands of people to leave their homes, and the smoke drifting over the border has sparked air quality concerns across the northern United States.
The air quality index (AQI) is predicted to be above 100 in much of New York State yesterday and could reach 135. Alerts are also in place for parts of New England.
The AQI measures the severity of pollution in the air and categorizes health risks. The higher the number, the more unsafe the air is to breathe.
This is not the first time US authorities have issued air quality alerts because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires.
In mid-July, a similar alert was issued for Chicago, with additional precautions advised for babies and the elderly.
The political implications of the wildfire smoke have also reached Washington.
Earlier in July, six members of Congress wrote to the Canadian ambassador complaining that smoke from wildfires was making it difficult for Americans to enjoy their summer.
There are currently more than 550 active fires in Canada, with the most concentrated in the province of Manitoba, according to authorities. 6.1 million hectares (15 million acres) of land has been burnt across the country in the past year.
May and June were particularly destructive months in western Canada, with roughly 30,000 people forced to evacuate in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where local administrations declared a state of emergency.
Scientists have consistently linked the intensifying wildfire seasons to climate change.
Canada is believed to be warming at twice the global average rate and its Arctic regions are heating up at nearly three times the global rate, scientists have warned.
Air quality alerts are in place across Canada and the northern United States due to smoke from wildfires, with officials warning residents to “limit time outdoors”.
Environment Canada issued alerts for much of Ontario, warning that wildfire smoke had significantly degraded air quality. On Monday, Toronto’s air quality ranked among the worst in the world.
In the US, officials issued similar alerts for Chicago through Tuesday evening, with additional precautions advised for babies and the elderly.
Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet emergency responders to assess the situation in Ottawa, as fires burning in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and northern Ontario have forced thousands out of their homes.
“When air pollution levels are high, everyone should limit time outdoors,” Environment Canada said in its special alert for Toronto. “Consider reducing or rescheduling outdoor sports, activities and events.”
It added that the elderly, pregnant women, infants and young children, people with an existing illness or chronic health condition were more at risk due to the smoke.
Alerts have also been issued across the border in Chicago. (Int’l Monitoring Desk)
