Seeing an orange sky is a wonderful experience when it’s the result of a stunning sunrise or sunset. But unfortunately, for residents of New York and various other cities on the East Coast of the United States, orange skies have turned into an absolute nightmare.
Over the past 6 weeks, Canada has been battling devastating wildfires that have ripped through more than 3.3 million hectares of land. And while they struggle to get the fires under control, smoke is spreading rapidly down the coast and turning the air quality hazardous in many cities.
While Canada is on track to have its most destructive wildfire season in history, the impacts are being seen farther south as well
Image credits: MeghanDanahey
Image credits: KarliBonnita
Cities on the East Coast of the US have watched their air turn into a hazardous orange haze, due to smoke from the wildfires
Image credits: mariyanyc
Image credits: brianpia
New York City has been hit the worst, so residents have been sharing harrowing images of their seemingly apocalyptic sky
Image credits: boston25
Image credits: JasminMarilena
Image credits: MandyAntoniacci
Image credits: LuvinThatTae
The city became increasingly orange throughout the day on June 7, 2023, causing New Yorkers to become increasingly concerned
Image credits: Breaking_4_News
Image credits: melbakurman
Image credits: EmpireStateBldg
They are now being urged to stay indoors, close doors and windows and use air purifiers
Image credits: FritzBacon
Image credits: brightlightx2
Image credits: PICKaSAURUS007
Image credits: PeterTedeschi
Canada has always had a wildfire season from May to October, but this level of devastation and pollution is unprecedented
Image credits: JesseRodriguez
Image credits: CallmePuzzle
Image credits: StormTeam4NY
Image credits: weatherchannel
Image credits: Laurie_Garrett
Officials report that increased temperatures and droughts, caused by climate change, have led to this year’s uncontrollable fires
Image credits: gooblythe
Image credits: BirdCentralPark
Canada’s wildfire season spans from May through October, but CBS News reports that destruction at this scale, this early on in the season, is unprecedented. Sadly, yet unsurprisingly, climate change has impacted how harmful wildfire season can be. Canada recently experienced the nation’s hottest day on record, reaching 49.6 degrees Celsius, or 121 degrees Fahrenheit, in Lytton, British Columbia. Fires are now blazing through the Canadian prairies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where high temperatures and little to no rain have put the areas at a greater risk this season. The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System has reported that the damage caused by these fires so early in the season is already 13 times worse than the nation’s 10-year average.
It’s impossible to say exactly how all of these fires started, but experts note that dry, hot seasons are prone to having more lightning than usual. Typically, about half of Canada’s wildfires are started by lightning, while the other half are caused by humans. It has been confirmed that the fires in Quebec began with lightning this year, but officials have not determined the cause of fires started in Alberta. Other fires throughout the country have been linked to human causes, such as throwing cigarette butts out windows and camping fires. Canada is doing everything they can to get these fires under control as quickly as possible, but it won’t be an easy feat. The nation is at “national preparedness level 5,” meaning they’ve committed as many national resources as possible to fight the fires, and the US has sent hundreds of firefighters, support personnel and equipment to help aid Canada.
Now, New York’s air quality has become the worst of any city on the planet, surpassing Delhi and Dubai
Image credits: nymetrowx
Image credits: nymetrowx
Image credits: EmpireStateBldg
Image credits: justicar
While Canada is working hard to quell fires, New Yorkers are simply trying to breathe
Image credits: NonAggressive-Ask
Image credits: nooneimportan7
Image credits: TheLostStonerr
Image credits: consoLe_-
While Canada struggles to bring an end to these raging fires, their neighbors down south are simply trying to breathe. New York City has been coated in an eerie orange smoke shroud due to the fires, but it’s much more dangerous than many residents initially realized. NYC has reported the worst air quality the city has ever experienced, reaching over 56 times the World Health Organization’s pollution limit. “It’s suffocating,” Rishabh Mehta, a tourist from India visiting NYC, told The New York Times. “We can’t walk long distances. If we keep walking long distances, we get tired early.” Outdoor events have been canceled, and residents have been urged to stay indoors, close windows and doors and use air purifiers.
“A healthy person may be able to withstand a day or two without too many issues, but at these levels, even they are at risk,” Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist with NYU Langone Health and Allergy & Asthma Network, told CNN. “But someone who is vulnerable has much higher risk. Most vulnerable include (the) elderly, children, those with underlying lung issues like asthma, COPD, lung cancer, heart disease and pregnant women.” Wearing face masks is also recommended, but it’s important that it’s the right kind of mask. N95s, KN95s, KF94s provide the best protection, according to Linsey Marr, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech University.
This dangerous air quality can have devastating impacts on residents’ health
Image credits: goldengateblond
And some are highlighting the role that climate change plays in natural disasters such as this
Image credits: edgarrmcgregor
Image credits: ClassyDameFan
You can learn more about the fires and orange skies from CBS News right here
@cbseveningnews New York was among the cities with the worst air quality in the world on Wednesday as Canadian wildfires put tens of millions of Americans at risk of dangerous air quality. In some parts of the country, the air is so bad it is equivalent to smoking one cigarette an hour. #newyorkcity #wildfires #canada #airquality #healthtok ♬ original sound – CBSEveningNews
Unsurprisingly, the fires and subsequent smoke have impacted residents’ lives in many different ways. Dani Harkin, a 54-year-old New Yorker, told The New York Times that the smell from the smoke has been overwhelming and triggering. “Last night, we didn’t really realize, but it smelled — it smelled like 9/11,” she shared. “Like, ‘That’s fire.’ It smelled like the day. I won’t forget that smell.” The smoke has also put a temporary end to air travel in certain cities. On Wednesday, June 7th, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a ground stop for flights en route to LaGuardia Airport in New York, and all flights headed to Newark Liberty International Airport were delayed due to low visibility.
If you live in an area affected by these wildfires, please take extreme caution when going outside. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4.2 million premature deaths were caused by fine particulate matter being inhaled in 2016. And as William Barrett, the national senior director of clean air advocacy with the American Lung Association, says, “If you can see or smell smoke, know that you’re being exposed.” Unfortunately, the Canadian Government says the warmer than normal temperatures will continue to put the country at high risk during this wildfire season, so it won’t be easy tackling these natural disasters. We would love to hear your thoughts on this tragic situation in the comments below, pandas, and remember to stay safe out there.
Residents and those viewing the situation unfold from around the world have shared their thoughts and concerns online
Yes, the air quality in the northeastern US is pretty bad right now, but I find it strange that BP is focused on that, rather than highlighting the actual fires in Canada. Just seems weird to me.
I searched "Wildfires in Canada". The first entry talked about air quality level in the US. Only the second entry actually focused on the Canadian wildfires. The next 3 entries again talked about the US air quality. Even search results are so US focused.
Load More Replies...
We also have our military helping to fight those forest fires. We are getting help from other countries besides the US.
Load More Replies...
I’m in Toronto and watching these stories for the past couple months have been devastating. We’re the second largest country in the world and half of us are on fire, the worst so far. Smells like BBQ here too, sky is just a weird grey. My ex and still good friend living back in Quebec says his city has ash in the air coming down. I am so sorry all of you from NY are dealing with this as well right now. But as a collective human race we seriously need to re evaluate how we treat our planet… I personally think it’s to late to reverse but perhaps we can slow it down, do SOME damage control.
Upvoting b/c I grew up on the border (US side) and for all people's talk about the US this and that? .... Yeah, climate change and so on don't care about lines on maps. It's *all of us* at risk!
Load More Replies...
so, according to holywoodian standards, NY is now in Mexico. a small note of lightness and a big supportive air kiss !
why are you guys focused on the bad air quality in nyc rather than the people losing their homes because of fires in canada?? in alberta it was this bad during may but no one cared
That is so weird, why aren't they focusing on what it's like in CANADA, where the actual fires are
my classmates were like: THERE IS GONNA BE AN APOCALYPSE! Also, I learned that the air quality in Maryland is so bad, if you don't wear a mask when you breathe in the air for twenty minutes, it is the equivalent of six cigarettes.
I'm in Virginia, and we'd like to discuss how to *stop the wildfires in Canada*, not how NYC looks. Please, can we just focus on the real problem? AKA: Climate change, drought, fires, smoke now affecting as far away as Iceland.
this was us no more than 15 days ago. we (Denver Colorado) were in the top 3 cities *worldwide* for the worst air quality. but no one gives a damn until it hits the megacities. WE ARE ALL ON FIRE AND NO ONE AT THE TOP CARES.
August, 2020. Portland, Salem, and Eugene all had smoked filled sites for almost two weeks with the fires burning in the mountains about 40 miles away.
So terribly sorry about your air guys, what with my country being on fire and all! Our fire season started extremely early this year and many of us are scared, not to mention how many people have now list their homes in what is only the START of the season. But again, sorry for your air quality. I know that sounded sarcastic and mean, but I can't bring myself to be actually sorry when people have lost so much already, when our forests are on fire, when people have lost their homes. We can't breathe either. Ask California how they manage, I'm sure they can give some tips.
Australians know what this is like. An I right in thinking that we sent some firies over to help in return for the Canadians coming to help us in 2019?
I live in SW Ohio and we have air quality alerts, the haze is getting worse but by no means anything like NYC.
I'm in the NYC area and what's getting to me more than anything is the smell. It's so acrid, you can taste it in the back of your throat and in your sinuses. For some weird miracle, keeping the windows closed is keeping the smell out of the house completely. I cracked the window for just a second this morning and it was like a punch in the face.
This is horrible, I feel so bad for Canada and New york. I live in Maryland and the smoke has been reaching where I live. It’s definitely not as bad as new York or Canada here but it’s very smoky. I hope it clears up soon
And the very next day a*s the smoke descended upon Vancouver, Wa 119048389_...a9be7b.jpg 
This was in Vancouver, Wa as the smoke from the California wildfires arrived from onshore flow. 225817329_...3ba447.jpg 
This is not uncommon on the west coast. Conifer trees are very flammable when it's dry, plus the days are long at the moment. I'm sure decades of fire suppression doesn't help with the available fuel supply either. Let's all just call it climate change though. No one needs to bother thinking about the real causes.
i live in Virginia, and it’s no where near as bad as NYC but i can still see the smoke in the air. it’s looks weird, like there’s a filter over everything
I remember a similar incident in 2010 or 2011 here in Baltimore. The sky was yellow and hazy and you could smell the scent of burning wood though it wasn't nearly this bad. My friend and I were amazed when we found out from the news that it was smoke from wildfires in Canada flowing down the jet stream.
I have to go to NY in two months. I have A1ATD, PISZ, and hereditary predisposition for macular degeneration, neither of which is that severe, but it means that the pollution will hurt me more than most. Will a N95 be enough or even help that much?
I live in Quebec and a few days ago we had warnings on the quality of the air. The sky was orangish and it smelled smoke everywhere..
Upvoting so that people will hopefully see it. My fam in Quebec are saying that midday looked like sunset. :-(
Load More Replies...
It's Neo New York. Put on your trenchcoat, wander the streets (masked up) and mumble your internal monologue. Honestly, you'll blend right in.
I live in MARYLAND, and I have to wear a mask from all the smoke
It’s terrifying here in Canada right now. We’ve had unseasonably hot temperatures in some provinces, last month and again this month. I dread to think what July and August are going to be like.
i thought us in COnnecticut had bad air quality ( the sky was orange, smelled like smoke, my eyes were watering) but my god New York is bad
I live in Maryland and the air quality is unhealthy for me. When I wake up to go to school the air is so foggy dark and gray. I feel so sad about the wildfires in Canada.
There's a wider perspective though. For example, in what is now California, early European explorers noted the prevalence of smoke. It has been suggested that millions of acres burned annually there in "prehistoric" times. It isn't known what percent of the ignitions were lightning caused, and what percentage was anthropogenic. The woods were not in poor health then. The native tribes did not beg the arriving explorers and settlers to save them from the fire activity. The point is, fire is normal in these ecosystems. A lot of fire, even if it is not as catastrophic as is being seen now. Part of the reason they are burning abnormally now has been the lack of fire. Either way, to maintain a healthy forest, however that is done, means that there is going to be a lot of smoke, every year. The only alternatives to removing all the accumulating fuel on such a landscape level would be prohibitively expensive. It's not the new normal, it's the old normal trying to reestablish itself. You can read up on these issues by going to https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch and searching for things like "prehistoric fire" or "smoke management". There aren't any easy fixes.
Indigenous Australians have been using 'controlled burns', for want of a better term, for millennia. Similar concept.
Load More Replies...
View from my home office window at 11am, and about 1pm: https://www.flickr.com/gp/shelli/2911w6cBUU
It's 155 in nyc rn and 355 where I am.... still going to school for some reason
Really? Someone I know has school canceled today because of the air quality
Load More Replies...
Yes, the air quality in the northeastern US is pretty bad right now, but I find it strange that BP is focused on that, rather than highlighting the actual fires in Canada. Just seems weird to me.
I searched "Wildfires in Canada". The first entry talked about air quality level in the US. Only the second entry actually focused on the Canadian wildfires. The next 3 entries again talked about the US air quality. Even search results are so US focused.
Load More Replies... We also have our military helping to fight those forest fires. We are getting help from other countries besides the US.
Load More Replies... I’m in Toronto and watching these stories for the past couple months have been devastating. We’re the second largest country in the world and half of us are on fire, the worst so far. Smells like BBQ here too, sky is just a weird grey. My ex and still good friend living back in Quebec says his city has ash in the air coming down. I am so sorry all of you from NY are dealing with this as well right now. But as a collective human race we seriously need to re evaluate how we treat our planet… I personally think it’s to late to reverse but perhaps we can slow it down, do SOME damage control.
Upvoting b/c I grew up on the border (US side) and for all people's talk about the US this and that? .... Yeah, climate change and so on don't care about lines on maps. It's *all of us* at risk!
Load More Replies... so, according to holywoodian standards, NY is now in Mexico. a small note of lightness and a big supportive air kiss !
why are you guys focused on the bad air quality in nyc rather than the people losing their homes because of fires in canada?? in alberta it was this bad during may but no one cared
That is so weird, why aren't they focusing on what it's like in CANADA, where the actual fires are
my classmates were like: THERE IS GONNA BE AN APOCALYPSE! Also, I learned that the air quality in Maryland is so bad, if you don't wear a mask when you breathe in the air for twenty minutes, it is the equivalent of six cigarettes.
I'm in Virginia, and we'd like to discuss how to *stop the wildfires in Canada*, not how NYC looks. Please, can we just focus on the real problem? AKA: Climate change, drought, fires, smoke now affecting as far away as Iceland.
this was us no more than 15 days ago. we (Denver Colorado) were in the top 3 cities *worldwide* for the worst air quality. but no one gives a damn until it hits the megacities. WE ARE ALL ON FIRE AND NO ONE AT THE TOP CARES.
August, 2020. Portland, Salem, and Eugene all had smoked filled sites for almost two weeks with the fires burning in the mountains about 40 miles away.
So terribly sorry about your air guys, what with my country being on fire and all! Our fire season started extremely early this year and many of us are scared, not to mention how many people have now list their homes in what is only the START of the season. But again, sorry for your air quality. I know that sounded sarcastic and mean, but I can't bring myself to be actually sorry when people have lost so much already, when our forests are on fire, when people have lost their homes. We can't breathe either. Ask California how they manage, I'm sure they can give some tips.
Australians know what this is like. An I right in thinking that we sent some firies over to help in return for the Canadians coming to help us in 2019?
I live in SW Ohio and we have air quality alerts, the haze is getting worse but by no means anything like NYC.
I'm in the NYC area and what's getting to me more than anything is the smell. It's so acrid, you can taste it in the back of your throat and in your sinuses. For some weird miracle, keeping the windows closed is keeping the smell out of the house completely. I cracked the window for just a second this morning and it was like a punch in the face.
This is horrible, I feel so bad for Canada and New york. I live in Maryland and the smoke has been reaching where I live. It’s definitely not as bad as new York or Canada here but it’s very smoky. I hope it clears up soon
And the very next day a*s the smoke descended upon Vancouver, Wa 119048389_...a9be7b.jpg
This was in Vancouver, Wa as the smoke from the California wildfires arrived from onshore flow. 225817329_...3ba447.jpg
This is not uncommon on the west coast. Conifer trees are very flammable when it's dry, plus the days are long at the moment. I'm sure decades of fire suppression doesn't help with the available fuel supply either. Let's all just call it climate change though. No one needs to bother thinking about the real causes.
i live in Virginia, and it’s no where near as bad as NYC but i can still see the smoke in the air. it’s looks weird, like there’s a filter over everything
I remember a similar incident in 2010 or 2011 here in Baltimore. The sky was yellow and hazy and you could smell the scent of burning wood though it wasn't nearly this bad. My friend and I were amazed when we found out from the news that it was smoke from wildfires in Canada flowing down the jet stream.
I have to go to NY in two months. I have A1ATD, PISZ, and hereditary predisposition for macular degeneration, neither of which is that severe, but it means that the pollution will hurt me more than most. Will a N95 be enough or even help that much?
I live in Quebec and a few days ago we had warnings on the quality of the air. The sky was orangish and it smelled smoke everywhere..
Upvoting so that people will hopefully see it. My fam in Quebec are saying that midday looked like sunset. :-(
Load More Replies... It's Neo New York. Put on your trenchcoat, wander the streets (masked up) and mumble your internal monologue. Honestly, you'll blend right in.
I live in MARYLAND, and I have to wear a mask from all the smoke
It’s terrifying here in Canada right now. We’ve had unseasonably hot temperatures in some provinces, last month and again this month. I dread to think what July and August are going to be like.
i thought us in COnnecticut had bad air quality ( the sky was orange, smelled like smoke, my eyes were watering) but my god New York is bad
I live in Maryland and the air quality is unhealthy for me. When I wake up to go to school the air is so foggy dark and gray. I feel so sad about the wildfires in Canada.
There's a wider perspective though. For example, in what is now California, early European explorers noted the prevalence of smoke. It has been suggested that millions of acres burned annually there in "prehistoric" times. It isn't known what percent of the ignitions were lightning caused, and what percentage was anthropogenic. The woods were not in poor health then. The native tribes did not beg the arriving explorers and settlers to save them from the fire activity. The point is, fire is normal in these ecosystems. A lot of fire, even if it is not as catastrophic as is being seen now. Part of the reason they are burning abnormally now has been the lack of fire. Either way, to maintain a healthy forest, however that is done, means that there is going to be a lot of smoke, every year. The only alternatives to removing all the accumulating fuel on such a landscape level would be prohibitively expensive. It's not the new normal, it's the old normal trying to reestablish itself. You can read up on these issues by going to https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch and searching for things like "prehistoric fire" or "smoke management". There aren't any easy fixes.
Indigenous Australians have been using 'controlled burns', for want of a better term, for millennia. Similar concept.
Load More Replies... View from my home office window at 11am, and about 1pm: https://www.flickr.com/gp/shelli/2911w6cBUU
It's 155 in nyc rn and 355 where I am.... still going to school for some reason
Really? Someone I know has school canceled today because of the air quality
Load More Replies... 
115
81