New York turns orange after fires - 14th June 2023

Over 100 million people were presented with air quality warnings in the US last week. Wildfires burning across Quebec, Canada, are believed to have been the main cause. Winds created an even greater problem, which then affected large parts of the US, including the cities of New York, Chicago and Washington DC.

Even Atlanta, Georgia was covered in smoke, which blocked out the sun and the country's iconic architecture and views. New Yorker Jack Wright was surprised by the thick orange smoke.

Jack Wright: "You can't even see the Statue of Liberty today and usually it's bright and clear."

As for Thai tourist Nicha, the cloud of smoke was a major disappointment for her.

Nicha Suaittiyanon: "I'm trying to like get lots of pictures as much as I can, but as you can see, when I took pictures I cannot see like the building even. I can't even see like the bridge in the pictures."

The Environmental Protection Agency issued a Code Red warning, meaning that the Air Quality Index was poor enough to be considered unhealthy for the public. The smoke and tiny particles of dust carried in the atmosphere can badly affect people's breathing. While most will recover quickly from exposure, those suffering from asthma, lung diseases or serious health conditions are at risk of complications.

Jack Wright came down with a cough as a result of the air pollution.

Jack Wright: "It's generated a kind of a cough all day long. I haven't, I quit smoking 50 years ago, but it's kind of a cough that I would have when I smoked."

Individuals like Charmaine Franco took steps to keep safe once outside.

Charmaine Franco: "You know, it's a bit cloudy, makes my eyes water, you know. As I had to bring her out today, you know, we had to make sure to keep our masks on because of the air quality, to make sure that, you know, we are okay. But you can't stay out here for too long, but you have to do what you have to do, so you have to get back inside."

Although the orange smoke began to fade, the smell of burning remained behind, hanging over New York. It was something Nicha seemed more disturbed by than inhabitant Pamela Roderick.

Nicha Suaittiyanon: "I smell kind of like someone's like doing barbecue or like all the time and then my eyes got watery and like itchy all the time yesterday, so the all, the whole evening was, for me, kind of like smoking, like smelling smoking and then my eyes are itchy."

Pamela Roderick: "So no, it doesn't bother me. I mean, you know, New York often smells kind of strange."