The smoke from the fires that affects various areas of Canada has also reached points on the east coast of the United States, including New York Citywhose sky remains partially covered by a haze that has forced the authorities to ask the population to take extreme precautions.’

In pictures: New York is covered in smoke by wildfires in Canada

Photograph showing smoke resulting from the Canadian wildfires, as it engulfs downtown New York City today. | Javier Otazu / Efe

The US National Weather Service has warned of the decline in air quality in some parts of the Northeast and the New Jersey state government has urged citizens with risk profiles to limit exposure to the particles now floating in the environment. Visibility is so low that La Guardia airport has suspended flights.

A woman takes photos on the pier at Gantry Plaza State Park as haze and smoke from the Canadian wildfires shrouds the Manhattan skyline

A woman takes photos on the pier at Gantry Plaza State Park as haze and smoke from the Canadian wildfires shroud the Manhattan skyline | Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Also the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, has called for people to with respiratory problems avoid going out. Public schools already canceled outdoor activities Tuesday afternoon as a precaution, although sporting events have been held.

The Statue of Liberty is shrouded in haze and smoke caused by wildfires in Canada.

The Statue of Liberty is shrouded in haze and smoke caused by wildfires in Canada. | Amr Alfiky / Reuters

A more serious situation in Ottawa, the sky over the Canadian capital is completely covered in a orange haze. Canada, which has suffered this year the burning of four million hectares due to forest fires, had more than 400 fires registered on Tuesday. Dry weather and strong winds have contributed to the spread of particles toward the United States, coming mainly from Quebec and Nova Scotia.

On Monday there were 413 active fires in Canada according to the country’s authorities, who anticipated that climate change will make this one of the worst fire seasons on record. A situation that the country’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau, did not hesitate to describe as “terrifying” in a press appearance that he gave together with six ministers to underline the seriousness of the problem. According to data provided by the Government of Canada, the country is registering an unusual number of fires for this time, which have already forced the evacuation of 26,206 people.

So far in 2023, there have been 2,214 forest fires, which have consumed more than three million hectares of forestwhen the average in the last decade was 1,624 fires and 254,429 hectares consumed, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources.