Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Head of Crimea: Russian air defenses shot down cruise missiles over Crimea.
Sevastopol Governor: Another attack on city still possible.
Governor of Russia's Sevastopol: Headquarters of Russia's Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol comes under missile strike.
Chinese President: Beijing ready to develop cooperation with Syria and for joint defense of international justice amid instability.
Chinese President Xi Jinping while receiving his Syrian counterpart: China and Syria moving toward announcing strategic partnerships.
Algerian Foreign Minister: Africa's Sahel region has become a focal point for terrorist armies armed with the latest weapons, and in control of a large geographical region.
RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti): The Rapid Support Forces in Sudan are fully ready for a ceasefire and comprehensive political talks
Israeli media: Meetings between Saudi and Israeli officials took place in the past few days regarding peace between the two sides
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A Palestinian was shot in occupied al-Quds under the pretext of carrying out a stabbing operation and wounding a security guard at the light rail station
Biden to announce air defense, no ATACMS missiles for Ukraine: White House

Canada wildfires prompt Red air quality alert for Washington

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Jun 2023 23:57

The red alert is the fourth of six levels in the system.

  • Canada wildfires promt Red air quality alert for Washington
    The sun rises over a hazy New York City skyline as seen from Jersey City, N.J., Wednesday, June 7, 2023.(AP)

The Maryland government has been forced to issue a red quality alert for much of the state, including all of its Washington suburbs, on Wednesday owing to severe pollution generated by wildfires in Canada.

Plumes of smoke are heading across the Northeastern US from southeastern Canada's Nova Scotia Province as a result of scorching wildfires, and air quality alerts are on in several cities. 

In an official notice, the Maryland Department of Environment explained that “While some reprieve in concentrations is expected during the day Wednesday, additional concentrated smoke plumes due to the diurnally surging nature of the fires in Quebec will push towards Maryland Wednesday evening. This may further add to the daily average load, resulting in some areas of the state attaining Unhealthy, Code Red AQI due to fine particles."

The red alert is the fourth of six levels in the system and will stay in place until Thursday due to the Quebec wildfires continuously causing large amounts of smoke to spread toward the Mid-Atlantic area. 

The notice detailed how a "concentrated plume of smoke is working south through Pennsylvania and New York towards the eastern half of Maryland."

Maryland officials estimate the situation to improve slightly by Friday, but the air may remain toxic for certain vulnerable sectors of the population.

Similar advisories were issued by the National Weather Service for Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Delaware, and numerous more states.

The White House said on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden has been briefed and is being kept up to date on the continuing Canadian wildfires, which the government has dispatched over 600 firefighters to assist suppress.

Related News

Trudeau accuses India of killing on Canadian soil, expels intel chief

US imports of Russian fertilizer increase, hit record high of $944mln

According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during a briefing on Wednesday, "The President has been regularly updated [on the wildfires in Canada] since he directed his team to provide impacted communities whatever support they need."

Jean Pierre elaborated that the Biden administration is in continuous contact with the government of Canada and has deployed more than 600 firefighters, utilizing equipment like water bombers to help extinguish the raging fires. 

Read next: 25,000 flee wildfires in western Canada

"We also have been in close touch with state and local leaders including in Michigan, Illinois, and New York. And multiple agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, CDC, and FEMA are coordinating with state, local, and tribal governments to get timely and accurate information out to communities about local air quality conditions and what steps they can take to protect themselves," Jean-Pierre added

The government is urging individuals in wildfire-affected regions to listen to state and local officials for updates and to take precautions, such as wearing a mask outside, to prevent any health concerns presented by dirty air.

As smoke from the fires continues to permeate the air as it flows east, Jean-Pierre recommended individuals in afflicted areas follow AirNow.gov for real-time information about air quality in their communities.

For weeks, fires have been burning in Canada as the country experiences high temperatures and unusual wildfire smoke, which is currently heading toward the US, even though the Northwestern states are not usually affected. 

Studies show that climate change is leading to larger, more intense, and more frequent wildfires, and described the smoke from these fires as hazardous due to its harmful microscopic particles.

Read next: World must brace for 30% more wildfires by 2050: UN

  • Canada
  • Washington
  • Maryland

Most Read

Ukrainian soldiers ride an APC on the front line near Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region, on June 5, 2023 (AP)

US sees Ukrainian army demoralized, no chance to win: Seymour Hersh

  • Europe
  • 21 Sep 2023
Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

Ukraine lost around 85% of its initial mobilized force: Field general

  • Europe
  • 16 Sep 2023
'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

'Israel's' railroad network targeted by cyberattack: Israeli media

  • Palestine
  • 16 Sep 2023
Old habits, linger … linger well past the time when old rituals (an Israeli PM visit to the Oval Office) had agency and the world hung on the outcome. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Arwa Makki)

Will a tripartite US-Saudi-Israeli ‘Deal’ make Any difference?

  • Opinion
  • 16 Sep 2023

Coverage

All
Morocco & Libya Disasters

Read Next

All
CAR leader blames West's 'plundering' of Africa for migrant crisis
Africa

West's pillage of Africa natural resources behind migrant crisis: CAR

US to strengthen border control with 800 additional troops.
US & Canada

US to fortify southern border control with 800 additional troops

French politican calls for stopping weapon shipments to Kiev
Europe

French politician demands no more weapons shipments to Kiev

France and Germany at odds once again over US arms
Europe

US arms purchases has France, Germany at odds, again

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS