What to Know About the Wildfire Smoke Drifting Into the US
- Air pollution reached hazardous levels in New York Wednesday
- Experts recommend staying indoors, masking until air improves
Buildings in Lower Manhattan shrouded in smoke in New York on June 7.
Photographer: Victor J. Blue/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Millions of Americans woke up to apocalyptic, orange skies Wednesday as thick smoke from wildfires in Canada moved across the US Northeast, spawning air quality warnings from Massachusetts to Washington, DC.
In New York, air pollution reached record — and dangerous — levels, putting the city atop the world’s worst for air quality. State and local officials told residents to mask up and stay indoors, but many have questions about how the smoke will affect them, and what is and isn’t safe to do right now.