US: New York City easily set a record on Wednesday for the worst air quality ever recorded there as hundreds of US firefighters rushed north to Canada to tackle the still-raging wildfires that caused it.
Heavy smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires drifted South, creating an apocalyptic orange fog enveloping much of the state and neighboring regions, as far south as Mexico.
“This is not the day to train for a marathon or to do an outside event for your children,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said at a press conference Wednesday, urging people to remain indoors or don N95 masks.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul urged school districts statewide to cancel any outdoor events or sports practices if they hadn’t already. “People need to prepare for this as a long haul,” Hochul said. She tweeted that the state will be making 1 million N95 masks available.
At its peak, the air quality index (AQI) for the city reached 405 out of 500 — the highest since records began, according to an analysis of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data by FOX Weather. The previous record was 279 in July 1981 — a whopping 126 points less.
Anything above 100 is considered unhealthy, while above 300 is “hazardous,” the index’s worst possible rating.
In a twisted irony, the record-smashing dire conditions came from Canada on what was supposed to be its national Clean Air Day — with this year’s tagline: “Clean Air Everywhere.” - NEW YORK POST, NDTV
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