Flames from the more than 150 fires that broke out in Canada last May have spiraled out of control and have caused an orange haze that covers this country from coast to coast and rests on much of the northern United States: from Chicago to Atlanta, a thick cloud of smoke complicates the daily life of more than 100 million people: tears, coughs and bad taste in the mouth, which even masks cannot avoid. Environmental agencies in Canada and the United States have asked to avoid outdoor activities, recommend that those with asthma or heart disease not go outside, avoid outdoor work and keep small and the elderly behind closed doors.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned: “These fires are affecting daily routines, lives, livelihoods and air quality. We will continue to work to fight climate change and address its impacts.”

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Alejandra Sánchez, a Colombian who lives in Mississauga, says smoke from wildfires is affecting air quality in several Canadian cities. “Looking at Toronto from my window, all you can see is a big cloud covering the city. The Health Quality Index for Toronto and surrounding areas was 4 today, indicating a moderate health risk. While walking with my son to school, we experienced burning eyes, throats and headaches. At their school, they decided to cancel all sports activities for the rest of the week as a precaution and now it is normal to see people with face masks on the streets again, like in the time of the pandemic. In Quebec, the epicenter of the fires, more than 20,000 people have been evacuated.

This year alone, in this Canadian province, there have been 438 fires; Across the country, 2,203 wildfires have been reported and nearly 3.8 million hectares of forests have burned. The most serious thing is that they lack resources. “With the troops we have, we can cover about 40 fires at the same time but there are 150 active,” said Quebec Premier François Legault. Trudeau added, “Our resources are stretched…we need to prepare for this new reality.”

According to newspaper articles Toronto Star, most concerning is that the fires are dangerously close to towns and villages. Fire crews from the United States, South Africa, France and other countries are doing what they can.

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This country, due to its geographical location, is warming up faster than the rest of the planet and this has led it to face extreme weather phenomena in recent years, the intensity and frequency of which have increased due to the change climatic. The disturbing images of fire and smoke that invade everything have become the face of a global ecological and humanitarian disaster that is affecting one country today, but is a mirror of what could happen for other nations.

The event is “another worrying sign of how the climate crisis is affecting our lives,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said. In New York, for example, the air quality reached an astonishing 353, on a scale of 500, which means it is very dangerous to health, according to the Air Quality Index, which measures on a scale from 0 to 500. and establishes six categories of danger, which is at the level where the cities affected by the orange haze are.

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At this time, it is unclear when the smoke will clear. No significant rain is expected until Monday evening. US authorities warn situation will continue until around Tuesday of next week; in New York, the Statue of Liberty and the skyscrapers of Manhattan are draped in an orange and brown haze, while the masks, remnants of the pandemic, reappear in the streets. Visibility is so complex that the US Civil Aviation Agency (FAA) has slowed air travel and even grounded some planes in the area.

The orange haze from the wildfires is spreading from Massachusetts to South Carolina and west to Missouri, threatening to disrupt flights and forcing millions to wear masks or stay indoors. airport flights The New York Guardia were suspended this Thursday due to low visibility, while the Federal Aviation Administration warned that flights could also be suspended in JFK, Newark and Teterboro.

The Washington Nationals postponed their baseball game with the Arizona Diamondbacks last night due to heavy smoke, which also affected other sporting events in the United States; On Wednesday, Major League Baseball, Women’s NBA and Women’s National Soccer League games were also suspended. In New York, the MLB said Yankee Stadium was “in an orange haze” due to “smoky conditions” as it announced the Chicago White Sox’s game against the New York Yankees. had been postponed.

Climate change increases the risk of hot, dry weather causing forest fires. The world has already warmed by around 1.2°C in recent times and temperatures will continue to rise if no action is taken to reduce emissions. An amber alert.