Canadian wildfires prompt air quality alerts, apocalyptic haze over Northeast

UNDER CONTROL. RAVI: THAT IS HOW BIG THIS PROBLEM IS. PART OF A PLATOON OF SOME 900 FIREFIGHTERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HEADING INTO REMOTE NORTHERN QUEBEC AND OTHER PLACES TO HELP KNOCK DOWN THE FIRES THAT ARE AFFECTING VAST SWATHES OF NORTH AMERICA. DARK YELLOW GREY COVERING THE SKY AS SMOKE FROM OVER 400 CANADIAN WILDFIRES MOVE SOUTHWARDS, ENVELOPING CITIES FROM NEW YORK TO PHILADELPHIA, CREATING HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS AND STOPPING MOST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES. AIR-QUALITY ALERTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED IN AT LEAST 16 STATES. THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY SAYING THE AIR-QUALITY INDEX HIT 484 THERE, WHERE 50 IS NORMAL AND ANYTHING OVER 300 MAKES FOR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. >> WE EXPECT IT TO DETERIORATE FURTHER TOMORROW AS SMOKE MOVES BACK OVER THE CITY. RAVI: OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK WERE CANCELED ALONG WITH BROADWAY SHOWS AND MAJOR-LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES AT YANKEE STADIUM. IN VISITED -- THE WHITE HOUSE SAYING 600 FIREFIGHTERS ARE HEADED TO CANADA TO HELP PUT OUT THE REMOTE IN FOR A NOSE. PART OF CANADA'S WORST FIRE SEASON EVER WITH AN AREA THE SIZE OF VERMONT BURNING PICKET TAKES 12 TO 18 HOURS FOR THAT CANADIAN SMOKE TO GET TO THE EASTERN SEABOARD. >> WE ARE SEEING VULNERABLE PEOPLE AT RISK, OUTDOOR EVENTS CANCELED, KIDS HAVING TO BE KEPT INSIDE. RAVI: THICK SMOKE IS FORECAST FOR PHILADELPHIA, BALTIMORE, AND WASHINGTON, D.C. WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. IT IS CREEPING TOWARDS NORTHWEST INDIANA AND CHICAGO, WHICH IS TROUBLE FOR THOSE WITH RESPIRATORY ISSUES. WE ARE DEFINITELY HAVING SOME ADDITIVE EFFECT TO OUR REGULAR CHICAGO POLLUTION AND ALLERGY SEASONS. RAVI: WITH THAT IN MIND, ONE EXPERT SAYS THE SMOKE IS PROBLEMATIC HERE BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE GASES AND TOXIC METALS IN IT AND AS IT TRAVELS AND CHANGES IT CAN CONTAIN OZONE AND REALLY SMALL PARTICLES AND THAT CAN GET DEEP INTO ONE'S LUNGS WITH OXYGEN GETTING INTO

Channel: ABC 7 Chicago

Views: 117,532

Keywords: canada wildfires, air quality near me, unhealthy air quality, wildfires in canada, air quality alert, air quality, chicago aqi, fire in canada, quebec wildfires, wildfires smoke map, fires in canada, air quality index meaning

Id: kPQJ76dJ6gI

Length: 2min 14sec (134 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 08 2023