Smoky Skies Menace U.S. Cities, Driving Residents Indoors
The Great Lakes region was enveloped in smoke and haze from Canadian wildfires for a second day on Wednesday, prompting millions of Americans to stay indoors in the heart of summer to avoid the unhealthy air.
In Chicago, the city’s famous skyline was shrouded in whitish, smoky clouds as President Biden, visiting for the day, delivered a speech downtown on his economic policies. Pools and summer camps in Madison, Wis., were closed down, forcing parents to scramble to find child care. Cleveland residents who ventured outside could taste the smoke in the air, the worst conditions that many had seen since the first wave from Canadian wildfires descended into the northern United States this month.
“You can even see the quality of the air is awful,” said Vincent Radzilowski, 59, a mail carrier, as he walked his route in suburban Cleveland wearing a mask for the first time in ages. “I’m going to be out here 10 or eight hours today, so that’s a long day to be breathing in this kind of air.”
Source: The New York Times
