This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66036541

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Canada wildfires spark air quality alerts in Chicago and Milwaukee Canada wildfires spark air quality alerts in Chicago and Milwaukee
(about 5 hours later)
Heavy smoke from wildfires has prompted air quality warnings in parts of Canada and the US Midwest, with some registering levels among the world's worst on Tuesday. Heavy smoke from wildfires has prompted air quality warnings in midwestern US cities such as Chicago, as well as parts of Canada.
Smoke has continued to drift south across North America in waves after the east coast was blanketed earlier this month. The outdoor air quality registered among the world's worst on Tuesday, with a visible haze and burning smell lingering over the region.
This year's wildfire season is the worst on record in Canada, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Smoke continues to drift south and east across North America in waves.
On Tuesday, a visible haze and burning smell lingered over the region. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre has said this year is the worst wildfire season on record.
Cities including Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as parts of Michigan and Ontario, registered air quality index levels in the 200s on a 500-point scale.Cities including Chicago and Milwaukee, as well as parts of Michigan and Ontario, registered air quality index levels in the 200s on a 500-point scale.
Those are numbers considered "very unhealthy", although lower than the levels seen earlier this month, which breached 400 in New York and other parts of the North East.Those are numbers considered "very unhealthy", although lower than the levels seen earlier this month, which breached 400 in New York and other parts of the North East.
Health authorities said that groups including children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems should limit outdoor activities when air quality is poor.Health authorities said that groups including children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems should limit outdoor activities when air quality is poor.
Chicago school officials said they would be holding summer programmes indoors on Tuesday.Chicago school officials said they would be holding summer programmes indoors on Tuesday.
Canadian fire authorities say nearly 500 fires are still burning, out of nearly 3,000 recorded so far this season. A total of 7.7m hectares (30,000 square miles) - an area roughly the size of South Carolina - has already been set ablaze.Canadian fire authorities say nearly 500 fires are still burning, out of nearly 3,000 recorded so far this season. A total of 7.7m hectares (30,000 square miles) - an area roughly the size of South Carolina - has already been set ablaze.
The fires have released a record 160m tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, according to the European Union's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.The fires have released a record 160m tonnes of carbon into the atmosphere, according to the European Union's Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service.
The smoke is forecast to drift to the south and east over the course of the next few days.The smoke is forecast to drift to the south and east over the course of the next few days.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
MilwaukeeMilwaukee
WildfiresWildfires
ChicagoChicago
CanadaCanada