Washington/Toronto/New York (EFE).- Nearly 400 fires, more than half out of control, are devastating Canada and have considerably affected air quality not only in the country, but also in the United States, where several of Their cities were wrapped in a layer of smoke this Wednesday that has forced the president, Joe Biden, to ask the population to be extremely careful.
Here are the highlights of this wave of fires that the Government of Canada blames on climate change.
“Scary” situation in Canada
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not hesitate to describe the situation in his country, hit by around 400 fires, as “terrifying”. He did so in a press appearance that he gave together with six ministers, a sign of the seriousness of the problem.
The authorities have attributed this wave of fires to climate change and have warned that, precisely for this reason, it will be one of the worst seasons in living memory.
So far this year, there are already more than 2,200 fires produced, which have devastated more than three million hectares. The average for the last decade was 1,624 fires and 254,429 hectares consumed, according to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources.
More than 26,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.
Quebec is one of the most affected provinces, since there are about 160 fires in its territory, most of them out of control.
Trouble breathing
In Canada, the generated smoke set off alarm bells in Toronto, the country’s largest population, where residents must refrain from spending time outdoors. In Ottawa, the capital, air quality is at its lowest level.
Until the weekend the authorities predict that the situation will continue. It will be then when the foreseeable arrival of a low pressure front will renew the air.
The alert for air quality due to the forest fires that ravage Canada extended this Wednesday to more than five US states, whose residents woke up in the middle of the haze caused by smoke.
Authorities have alerted the public to the “dangerous” air conditions and have asked that outdoor activities be limited.
In New York, one of the first cities to receive the fine suspended particles that travel from the north of the continent, the warning for poor air quality will remain for “several days.” Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan asked New Yorkers to avoid going outside unless “absolutely necessary” and recommended the use of masks such as the N95.
In addition, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a “hazardous weather” alert for air quality in southern Maryland, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Citizens in Massachusetts advised to avoid “prolonged outdoor activities” due to the presence of smoke, which they expect to remain until Thursday, as in New Jersey.
The city of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania, is on “red alert”. Its authorities asked citizens to cancel outdoor activities, close doors and windows and be vigilant in case they present symptoms such as nausea or difficulty breathing.
Smoke from the Canadian fires has also reached Washington, the country’s capital, where the highest air quality alert has also been declared for the first time in more than 10 years, The Washington Post reported.
Biden involvement
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday offered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his “unconditional support” to respond to the wave of forest fires.
So far, the US has sent some 600 firefighters to Canada to fight the flames and Biden has ordered that all necessary federal resources be used to put out the fires that are already impacting both countries.
During the telephone conversation between the two presidents, the two recognized “the need to work together to respond to the devastating impact of climate change” that is behind the increase in fires in Canada, according to the Canadian government.
Trudeau and Biden also spoke about the impact smoke from the fires is having on the health of millions of people in Canada and the United States.
Consequences at airports
LaGuardia airports in New York and Newark airports in neighboring New Jersey suffered significant delays due to low visibility caused by heavy smoke blowing in from the north, caused by the wave of fires in Canada.
According to the Flightaware.com page, this Wednesday there were delays in 37% of the flights that had to leave LaGuardia (with an average of 2 hours late), and in 17% in the case of Newark (82 minutes late). ); there were also 19 cancellations at LaGuardia and 15 at Newark.
Curiously, the largest airport on the East Coast, New York’s JFK, appears to be operating normally and does not appear on any list of incidents.
In Canada, the Toronto airport is also experiencing delays in 18% of its flights.