Air quality: Noxious smoke eases over US but wildfires still major threat in Canada

Belmont Park in Elmont New York cancelled horse racing on Thursday due to poor air quality, The Associated Press reported.

There were also more cancellations in Major League Baseball with the Washington Nationals also postponing Thursday’s game.

Formula 1 has insisted next week’s Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal is not at risk despite raging wildfires in the province of Quebec, where the city is located.

More than 400 wildfires have erupted across Canada and 7 million acres have been destroyed so far. In Quebec, there have been mass evacuations as officials warned this could be the country’s worst wildfire season on record.

In Montreal, thick smoke descended on the city this week but F1 insist the upcoming race meet at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve will go ahead as planned.

The Independent’s Formula 1 Correspondent, Kieran Jackson, has more

A view of the bridges over a hazy East River as smoke from wildfires burning in Canada continues to create unhealthy air quality conditions in New York on Thursday morning.

As the clouds of heavy smoke from the Canadian wildfires makes it way toward Washington DC, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments enacted a “Code Purple” warning.

The warning means air quality is “very unhealthy” and in some areas “hazardous” putting millions of people in the DC area at risk.

The Washington Nationals postponed their Thursday game, The National Zoo closed, schools have moved recess inside and those who need to be outdoors are advised to wear a N95 or KN95 face covering.

President Joe Biden has issued a statement about the wildfires in Canada, whose smoke is causing dangerous air quality conditions for people in the US.

“This morning, millions of Americans are experiencing the effects of smoke resulting from devastating wildfires burning in Canada, another stark reminder of the impacts of climate change. Since May, more than 600 U.S. firefighters, support personnel, and firefighting assets have been deployed, working alongside Canadian firefighters to tackle what is likely to be the worst fire season in Canadian history, and one that has huge impacts here in the United States.”

“Yesterday I spoke with Prime Minister Trudeau and offered any additional help Canada needs to rapidly accelerate the effort to put out these fires, particularly those in Quebec, where the fires are having the most direct impacts on American communities. I have directed the National Interagency Fire Center to respond promptly to Canadian requests for additional firefighters and fire suppression assets such as air tankers. I’ve asked Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg to keep me informed about his progress in ensuring that we proactively manage the air traffic implications of the deteriorated air quality based on lessons learned from prior incidents. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Regan is continuously monitoring air quality and providing critical updates for each relevant zipcode; you can find the current air quality and updated public health guidance in your area at AirNow.gov. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control offer detailed recommendations on protecting yourself from the effects of wildfire smoke at CDC.gov. Stay safe and follow the guidance of your local officials.”

Public schools in New York have moved classes in session on 9 June to remote learning.

“For schools serving grades 9-12 and 6-12 in Districts 1-32 and 79: Students and staff in these schools were scheduled to attend school in-person on June 9, we are shifting to remote instruction,” NYC Public Schools tweeted.

They added: “Additional guidance will be shortly forthcoming to instructional staff.”

Schools serving 3K, Pre-K, K-5, 6-8, K-12 and district 75 will be off – though this was previously planned as a Clerical Day.

Fox News hosts have pilloried residents of New York and Washington DC for wearing masks after raging wildfires in Canada enveloped the cities in acrid smoke.

As New York recorded the worst air pollution in the world on Wednesday, a procession of anchors and guests on the right-wing network denied clear scientific evidence that the smoke was dangerous.

Bevan Hurley reports:

Climate protesters gathered outside of the White House in Washington DC to speak out against the Mountain Valley Pipeline as a “Code Purple” warning headed over the DC area.

Images from the protest showed activists gathered together, wearing masks to protect themselves from the smoky air from the Canadian wildfires while holding signs and banners.

Justin Pearson, a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives spoke at the protest joking that with the remaining breath in protestor’s bodies, “we still got some fight left”.