VIDEO I FOTO Ovako danas izgledaju New York, Chicago, Detroit, Washington...

Smoke from uncontrolled wildfires sweeping across Canada has enveloped major cities in the northeastern United States, severely degrading air quality and prompting health warnings in several key urban centers. According to recent data from Canadian authorities, over 209 of the country’s total 893 active fire sites are currently out of control. The smoke has drifted southward, affecting millions of residents along the eastern seaboard of the U.S., including major metropolitan areas such as New York, Chicago, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. These cities were identified by Swiss air quality monitoring firm IQAir as the world's most polluted locations on Tuesday. The current wildfire season has seen a notable increase in intensity over the past week, despite being less severe than the record-breaking seasons of 2023 and 2022. Data from the Canadian government indicates that nearly 2.8 million hectares have burned since the start of this year, compared to 1.6 million hectares recorded just last week. Ontario province, which has requested federal assistance due to the severity of its fires, has been particularly affected. While there have been no reported fatalities so far, several isolated communities have had to evacuate. Smoke has also significantly worsened air quality in Toronto, the largest city in Canada, and has extended into parts of the eastern United States, raising concerns ahead of the World Cup final weekend in New York. The thick smog has transformed the skies above many northeastern U.S. cities into a dense gray haze, drastically reducing visibility. In Arlington, Virginia, where the view of Washington, D.C., is usually clear, landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument are barely visible through the haze. Unusual smells have filled the air, and local authorities have issued alerts advising residents to avoid outdoor activities due to the hazardous nature of the particulate matter in the smoke. Similar conditions have been observed in New York City, Boston, and Chicago, with residents reporting a noticeable smell of smoke in the air. Local governments have warned that the fine particles present in the smoke can pose serious health risks, urging people to limit their exposure to the outdoors. The primary cause of the widespread smoke is the large-scale forest fires raging in Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as in the U.S. state of Minnesota. Experts warn that the pattern of these fires has changed significantly in recent years. What was once rare in Ontario, thick smoke affecting western Canadian cities, is now becoming more common. Since 2015, climate change has contributed to increasingly frequent wildfires in the region, as dry conditions make vegetation more susceptible to ignition. Some residents in northern Ontario have been forced to abandon their homes, with one Indigenous community leader stating her village had been “burned down to the ground,” highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the fires beyond the immediate fire zones. In response to the ongoing crisis, four Republican representatives from Michigan have accused Canada of failing to take adequate measures to combat the wildfires. In a joint letter addressed to the Canadian prime minister, they criticized Canada’s “continued passivity” regarding the issue, calling it unacceptable. The lawmakers, John James, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman, and Lisa McClain, conveyed frustration with what they described as insufficient actions from Canadian officials. They warned that the United States might consider direct involvement in cross-border firefighting efforts if Canada does not take decisive steps to address the problem. The representatives emphasized that American lungs have suffered annual consequences due to Canada’s lack of action. They highlighted key issues such as chronic underinvestment in forest thinning, reduction of fuel material, and controlled burning practices. Additionally, they pointed out that penalties for starting wildfires in Canada remain inadequate. According to data from Canada’s information system, over 890 fires have been active nationwide, with most of them currently out of control. Nearly three million hectares of land have been scorched by these fires.