NEW YORK, July 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Canadian wildfire smoke continues to plague the United States, triggering air quality alerts for 11 states across the northern Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region Sunday.
From Montana to New York, forecasters predicted nearly 60 million people would see decreased visibility and poor air quality, including residents of Chicago, Detroit, New York, St. Louis, Cedar Rapids and Cleveland.
A large swath of the northern Plains from Montana through Illinois had an Air Quality Index in the “unhealthy” range, which is Level 4 of 6, on Sunday.
The entire state of New York is under air quality health advisory due to smoke from wildfires in Western Canada. “The smoke is expected to cause the Air Quality Index to reach levels in Upstate communities that are ‘Unhealthy for All’ New Yorkers,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.
The state is activating emergency notifications on roads and making masks available for distribution, Hochul said.
Winds will continue to push the smoke eastward, bringing a smoky haze to the Northeast early in the week.
The plume was birthed from nearly 400 fires ignited in Canada’s province of British Columbia in the past week, nearly half of which were started by 51,000 lightning strikes from thunderstorms, the British Columbia Wildfire Service said.
On Sunday, Canadian authorities announced that a second firefighter had died battling the wildfires.
“We regret to share the tragic news that a firefighter from Fort Liard has passed away from an injury sustained while fighting a wildfire in the Fort Liard District Saturday afternoon,” Canada’s Northwest Territories said in a statement.
On Thursday, officials had confirmed the death of a firefighter responding to a blaze near Revelstoke, a town in southeastern British Columbia.
“I’m incredibly saddened by the news from the Northwest Territories, that another firefighter has lost their life battling wildfires,” Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Sunday. “To their family, their friends, and those they were heroically serving alongside: Canadians are keeping you in our thoughts. We’re here for you.” — NNN-AGENCIES
