US President Joe Biden has offered Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau his support in responding to the wave of wildfires that is devastating Canada and has affected air quality on the US East Coast.

“President Biden spoke today with Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada to offer him unwavering support in responding to the historic and devastating fires burning across Canada,” the White House said in a statement.

So far, Washington has sent some 600 firefighters to Canada to battle the blazes and Biden has ordered that all necessary federal resources be used to put out the blazes already affecting both countries.

Canada’s Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that Trudeau and Biden had a telephone conversation during which the Canadian Prime Minister thanked the assistance provided so far by the United States in fighting the fires. .

During the call, the two leaders recognized “the need to work together to respond to the devastating impact of climate change”, which is driving the increase in fires in Canada.

Trudeau and Biden also discussed the impact of smoke from the fires on the health of millions of people in Canada and the United States.

In recent days, smoke from the approximately 362 wildfires burning across Canada has spread to major Canadian urban centers as well as several cities on the east coast of the United States, causing a dramatic decline in the quality of the air, even in Washington.

New York, which was blanketed in orange lights and the smell of burning on Wednesday, recorded the highest pollution levels in decades, for which authorities have asked citizens to stay at home.

The Canadian capital, Ottawa, has also become one of the cities in the world with the worst air quality due to particles from fires in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is also on alert for deteriorating air quality, which is not expected to improve until the weekend.

Canadian authorities recommend that the elderly, children and people with respiratory problems limit their outdoor activities in areas affected by smoke.

Of the approximately 400 fires in Canada, about half are out of control.

Canadian authorities have warned that the figures for fires and hectares burned are well above normal for this time of year and that in the coming months the situation will worsen to levels not seen in the country.

Information: latinus