Canadian fires polluting New York City air continue blazing out of control
The Canadian wildfires choking New York City with smoke continue raging with no end in sight.
At noon Wednesday, nearly 150 fires were tearing through Quebec, “most of them out of control,” according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).
Firefighters from the U.S., Mexico, France, Spain and Portugal are expected to join smoke eaters in the burning province, which hopes to put 1,200 people on the ground to battle the blazes — nearly double the firefighters currently in the fight.
However, Canadian Premier François Legault isn’t expecting divine intervention to solve his nation’s troubles.
“I want us to be realistic and not have rose-colored glasses,” he said. “We won’t have rain in the next few days.”
Quebec’s 11 aircraft are reportedly being assisted by at least six others from neighboring provinces that have their own flames to extinguish. Newfoundland and Labrador loaned firefighting aircraft to Quebecers, but had to call back at least two of those units. Canadian officials said 400 wildfires are burning nationwide. More than 11,000 Canadians have been forced from their homes, according to the CBC.
Smoke being generated by those fires are leading to hazardous conditions in the U.S., including New York City, which had the worst air quality on Earth Wednesday, according to Swiss tracking service IQ Air. Health officials encourage New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs to refrain from strenuous activity while city air remains nearly unbreathable.
