Canadian wildfire smoke descends on US East Coast

By Alvin Wu
Domestic Affairs
Canadian wildfire smoke descends on US East Coast

The Minnie B. Veal Community Center is blanketed by the orange smoke haze in Edison, New Jersey, at 17:13 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

EDISON, N.J., June 7 (ZFJ) — Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted into the eastern and central U.S., tinting the sky orange and triggering air quality alerts on Wednesday.

Canadian authorities are battling “one of the worst wildfire seasons on record,” said Steven Guilbeault, Canadian minister of environment and climate change. The country is currently facing over 400 wildfires, with over half out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) for parts of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut were listed as hazardous (above 300) or very unhealthy (above 200) on AirNow. The AQI is established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act, including particulate matter, such as PM2.5 (fine inhalable particles).

The highest AQI in New Jersey on Wednesday was 364 in the North Central region. New York City reached an AQI of 413. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) said in a Twitter post that it did not expect much improvement in air quality the next day.

“Hazardous air quality levels will persist across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic through Wednesday before shifting westward into Ohio Valley on Friday,” said the NWS Weather Prediction Center in its 15:33 EDT short range forecast on Wednesday.

Poor air quality puts seniors, children, and immunocompromised people at risk and can result in difficulty breathing, irritated eyes and throat, and coughing, said the NWS. It recommended limiting time spent outdoors and wearing a mask outside.

An adult and two children run inside the Minnie B. Veal Community Center in the midst of the smoke haze at 17:08 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu An adult and two children run inside the Minnie B. Veal Community Center in the midst of the smoke haze at 17:08 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

The smoke was a strange sight for many northeastern U.S. residents. The sky gradually gained a yellow tinge, eventually becoming deep orange. There was also a distinct smell of burning wood, and the sun appeared red.

The sun appears red in Edison, New Jersey, at 17:15 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu The sun appears red in Edison, New Jersey, at 17:15 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

Schools remained open, although many businesses chose to close early. However, outdoor activities ranging from sports events to recess were canceled.

North Edison Park is blanketed by the orange smoke haze in Edison, New Jersey, at 17:15 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu North Edison Park is blanketed by the orange smoke haze in Edison, New Jersey, at 17:15 EDT 2023-06-07. ZFJ/Alvin Wu

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