The images keep repeating themselves in the news, on social networks, on messaging chains: New York completely enveloped in thick orange smoke, the sky overcast, the citizens with masks and glasses. An apocalyptic scene “straight out of Mars”, says the New York Post. In reality, the North American city is barely suffering from the blows of the huge fires that are raging in the neighboring country, Canada. This is where the real problem lies.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this morning the arrival of “hundreds of American firefighters” in his country to deal with the fires affecting several areas. Trudeau, who said there are more firefighters “on the way,” had a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden, whom he thanked “for all the help the Americans are giving us as we continue to battle these devastating wildfires.”

Biden, for his part, ordered the deployment of “all available federal firefighting resources that can quickly help put out the fires affecting Canadian and American communities.”

“To date, the United States has deployed more than 600 firefighters and support personnel, along with other extinguishing media, to help respond to the blazes,” a White House statement read.

Additionally, Trudeau and Biden discussed “continued cooperation” to prevent wildfires and address the health impact of those fires on our communities.”

On the other hand, the head of the Canadian government pointed out that these fires affect daily routines, life and livelihoods, as well as air quality. “We are seeing more and more of these kinds of fires due to climate change,” he said, while indicating that his Administration will also work “with partners around the world” to “address climate change and cope with its effects”.

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. It’s hard to breathe even in enclosed spaces and that’s why people wear masks and goggles.

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.

Airports in LaGuardia, New York, and Newark, in neighboring New Jersey, are experiencing significant delays due to low visibility caused by heavy smoke. According to the Flightaware.com page, this Wednesday there were delays in 37% of flights that were to leave LaGuardia (with an average of 2 hours late), and in the case of Newark in 17% (82 minutes late ). delay); there were also a few cancellations (19 at LaGuardia and 15 at Newark).

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 that have broken out 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. For the moment, we are talking about four million hectares burned.