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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 28 June 2023

Canadian wildfires are causing unhealthy air quality again in

Chicago and other parts of the U.S.

By MELINA WALLING, to avoid breathing in these eryone because it denotes
MELISSA WINDER and particles. high levels of fine particle
TRISHA AHMED Fires in northern Quebec pollution, or PM2.5 par-
Associated Press and low pressure over the ticles.
CHICAGO (AP) — Drifting eastern Great Lakes are In early June, U.S. President
smoke from the ongoing sending smoke through Joe Biden said in a state-
wildfires across Canada is northern Michigan, and ment that hundreds of
creating curtains of haze across southern Wisconsin American firefighters and
and raising air quality con- and Chicago, said Bryan support personnel have
cerns throughout the Great Jackson, a meteorologist been in Canada since
Lakes region, and in parts with the National Weather May, and called attention
of the central and eastern Service. to the fires as a reminder
United States. Jackson added that a of the impacts of climate
In Minnesota, a record north wind would push the change.
23rd air quality alert was is- The Marriott Marquis, left, and the Hyatt Regency McCormick smoke further south, mov- The warming planet will
sued Tuesday through late Place, center, stand above The McCormick Place Convention ing into Illinois, Indiana and produce hotter and lon-
Wednesday night across Center in a veil of haze from Canadian wildfires obscuring the Kentucky later Tuesday ger heat waves, making
much of the state, as smoky majestic Chicago skyline, as seen from the city’s Bronzeville and overnight. for bigger, smokier fires, ac-
skies obscure the skylines of neighborhood Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Chicago. Southwestern Michigan cording to Joel Thornton,
Minneapolis and St. Paul. Associated Press has a high air quality index, professor and chair of the
On Tuesday, Michigan's Forest Fire Centre reported Health officials say it's im- over 200 on a 500-point in- department of atmospher-
Department of Environ- Monday that 76,129 square portant to limit outdoor ac- dex, he noted. That's con- ic sciences at the University
ment, Great Lakes, and kilometers (29,393 square tivities as much as possible sidered unhealthy for ev- of Washington.q
Energy issued an air qual- miles) of land including
ity alert for the entire state. forests has burned across
Wisconsin's Department of Canada since Jan. 1. That
Natural Resources also is- exceeds the previous re-
sued an air quality advisory cord set in 1989 of 75,596
for the state. square kilometers (29,187
In Chicago — where the square miles), according to
air quality has been cat- the National Forestry Data-
egorized "unhealthy" by base.
the U.S. Environmental Pro- Nationally, there are cur-
tection Agency — officials rently 490 fires burning, with
are urging young people, 255 of them considered to
older adults and residents be out of control.
with health issues to spend Even recent rainfall in Que-
more time indoors. bec likely won't be enough
"Just driving into the zoo ... to extinguish the wildfires
you could just see around ravaging the northern part
the buildings, kind of just of that province, but the
haze," said Shelly Woinows- wet weather could give
ki, who was visiting the Lin- firefighters a chance to get
coln Park Zoo in Chicago. ahead of the flames, offi-
Some day care centers in cials said Tuesday.
the Chicago area have Nearly a quarter of the fires
told parents that their chil- burning in Canada are
dren will remain indoors in Quebec. Environment
Tuesday due to the poor Canada meteorologist Si-
air quality, while one youth mon Legault said he ex-
sports club says it adjusted pects rain to stop falling by
its activities to add more Wednesday morning in the
time indoors. regions most affected by
"We recommend children, forest fires.
teens, seniors, people with Earlier this month, massive
heart or lung disease, and fires burning stretches of
individuals who are preg- Canadian forests blanket-
nant avoid strenuous ac- ed the northeastern United
tivities and limit their time States and the Great Lakes
outdoors," Mayor Brandon region, turning the air yel-
Johnson said in a release. lowish gray, and prompting
"As these unsafe conditions warnings for people to stay
continue, the city will con- inside and keep windows
tinue to provide updates closed.
and take swift action to The small particles in wild-
ensure that vulnerable indi- fire smoke can irritate the
viduals have the resources eyes, nose and throat, and
they need to protect them- can affect the heart and
selves and their families." lungs, making it harder to
The Canadian Interagency breathe.