Heavy smoke from wildfires currently blazing in Canada and Minnesota is engulfing large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast United States this week. With more than 100 wildfires burning in Canada and multiple fires raging in northern Minnesota, winds are carrying the smoke southeast, exposing millions of people to hazardous levels of air pollution.
The fine particulate matter present in the smoke is considered unhealthy, particularly for sensitive groups such as children and individuals with pre-existing heart or lung conditions.
On Thursday, Detroit and Minneapolis were ranked among the top five most polluted major cities in the world. Air quality alerts have stretched across a vast region, from Minnesota to parts of the Northeast. Minnesota officials issued an alert through Friday for areas including the Twin Cities metro area, noting that air quality in the state's northeastern corner reached hazardous levels, making it unsafe for everyone.
In Michigan, the entire state was placed under an air quality alert on Thursday, with officials warning that the advisory could be extended if conditions do not improve. Similarly, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection issued air quality alerts for the entire state.
In New York, an air quality advisory was in effect for the entire state on Thursday, and officials announced that N95-style masks would be distributed to commuters in New York City. Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection declared a Code Red air quality alert for the same day, citing unhealthy pollution levels for all residents.
As the plume of smoke moved into the Boston area, residents observed the sky morphing from a milky white to an ominous brown and yellow. Similar reports of yellowish and brownish skies were reported across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Tyler Hasenstein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Chanhassen, Minnesota, stated that the most intense smoke could spread as far south as Washington, D.C., by midday Thursday. Hasenstein advised people to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid both the smoke and extreme heat.
He noted that the coincidence of these two factors is particularly detrimental from a health perspective. Fine particle pollution can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, dizziness, and fatigue, while also aggravating chronic health issues.
Experts recommend reducing or eliminating outdoor activities, wearing an N95 mask if outdoor exposure is unavoidable, and keeping indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running air purifiers or air conditioners. Dr. Alexander Azan, an assistant professor of population health and medicine at NYU Langone Health, emphasized that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter is a leading cause of premature death.
He warned that continued exposure to these levels of air pollution increases the risk of developing chronic health conditions later in life. A study released earlier this year linked chronic exposure to wildfire-related air pollution to tens of thousands of deaths annually in the United States.
Dan Westervelt, an associate professor at Columbia University's Climate School, explained that severe drought conditions combined with heat in Canada and the U.S. have created a perfect storm for dry conditions, providing ample fuel for the wildfires.
Research indicates that warming temperatures resulting from the burning of coal, oil, and gas are making these fires more frequent and intense. The majority of the Canadian blazes are currently burning out of control.
The intensity of the situation was highlighted by a dramatic video captured earlier this week near Armstrong, Ontario, where a freight train was suddenly surrounded by a wall of burning trees. A panicked crew watched the fire consume the area around them, unable to move until another train passed.
While the Canadian National Railway subsequently suspended rail operations in that area, the company confirmed that everyone on board the train reached safety.
"Those two things coinciding with each other is not good from a health perspective," he said.
"Whether you're somebody who's working outdoors [or] you have an errand that you just can't not do today or tomorrow, the best way to keep yourself safe is buying an N95 or KN95-grade mask," Azan said.
