Smoke from Canada wildfires prompt air quality alerts in US: See map
- Canadian wildfires are causing poor air quality in parts of the U.S.
- Air quality alerts have been issued for several states, advising precautions for sensitive groups.
- The EPA has designated air quality in several regions as "unhealthy for sensitive groups."
Large wildfires in Canada continued to cause concerning air quality levels across parts of the United States and triggered multiple air quality alerts.
Over 750 wildfires are burning throughout Canada, with more than 500 labeled out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Over 16 million acres of land have been scorched by blazes, making this year's wildfire season one of Canada's worst on record.
Smoke from the blazes has crossed into the United States, bringing hazy skies to multiple states and major metropolitan areas, including New York City. As of Aug. 6, the Environmental Protection Agency labeled air quality throughout the Plains, Midwest and Northeast regions as "unhealthy for sensitive groups," including the city of Chicago.
The National Weather Service issued air quality alerts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The alerts warned those with asthma and heart issues to take precautions to avoid fatigue and strenuous outdoor activity.
Here's where Canada wildfire smoke is impacting the U.S.
See map of Canada wildfires
Air quality index
See air quality levels across the U.S.
Contributing: Julia Gomez