Smoke from Canadian wildfires chokes Toronto and threatens New York

Toronto, New York – Reuters: Air quality in Toronto was ranked the worst among major cities worldwide, as smoke from wildfires emanating from northwestern Ontario blackened the sky and spread as far as the northeastern United States, prompting authorities to issue health warnings and urge residents to limit outdoor activities.

The wildfires are burning in sparsely populated areas hundreds of miles from Toronto, producing smoke that covers a vast area but does not pose a direct threat to the city.

Canada’s Environment Ministry reported that Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index reached 10+, classified as “very high risk,” with forecasts indicating that hazardous conditions persisted into the evening.

New York City is also feeling the impact, as local authorities issued a warning after air quality reached unhealthy levels, urging residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activities.

This comes just days before neighboring New Jersey is set to host the World Cup final next Sunday.

The National Weather Service said the smoke could persist into early next week.

IQAir, a Swiss company specializing in air quality technology, ranked Toronto as having the worst air quality globally, surpassing Kinshasa and Delhi. New York ranked fifth. The Canadian government reported approximately 835 active wildfires across the country, with 112 deemed out of control. To date, the fires have consumed 4.7 million acres.