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Over the past six weeks, massive Canadian wildfires have spread nationwide. This has caused mass evacuations and burning through more than 81 million acres of land. This is an area larger than the state of Maryland.

Canadian officials requested additional assistance from other countries in combating the more than 400 blazes that have ravaged the country. These fires have already displaced over 20,000 people. And communities are devastated in their wake.

While the Canadian wildfire season typically runs from May through October, there has never been so much destruction. And it appears that Canada is in the midst of the most devastating wildfire season on record. 

At this point, the Canadian crisis has become an American crisis.

Smoke from the wildfires has extended across a significant portion of the United States. And social media is filled with images of the orange haze.

Brenda Kitchner a resident of New Milford, Pennsylvania said "It's one of the strangest things. The sun looks like a red spot and the air is orange. It's surreal. And you can smell the fire in the atmosphere."

Tech influencer Marques Brownlee described flying back to the east coast in a tweet.

Canadian wildfires impacts the US

New York was the most polluted major city in the world on Tuesday night according to the IQAir website. The smoke has affected air quality for millions of people along the East Coast, as the fires continue to rage with no signs they are getting under control.

The impact of the smoke on air quality has reached hazardous levels of pollution, with central New York and northeastern Pennsylvania experiencing the worst conditions.

New York City received the dubious distinction Tuesday of having the most polluted air of any place on the planet.

On Tuesday night, New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement that an Air Quality Health Advisory had been issued for all five boroughs. And while conditions were expected to improve through Wednesday morning, they were predicted to worsen again later in the day. 

As predicted the smoke from the Canadian wildfires continued to pour into the East Coast and Midwest on Wednesday. The capitals of both nations were enveloped in an unhealthy haze. 

The dense smoke led to flight delays at major airports.  And people in affected areas are back to wearing pandemic-era face masks.

Impacts on sports

The dire consequences of this environmental crisis have even infiltrated the realm of sports. 

Major League Baseball (MLB) was forced to postpone games scheduled in New York and Philadelphia on Wednesday night due to the poor air quality caused by the smoke.

A National Women's Soccer League game in New Jersey and an indoor WNBA game set for Brooklyn were also called off due to the hazy conditions.

The New York Yankees' game against the Chicago White Sox was rescheduled as part of a doubleheader starting at 4:05 p.m. on Thursday, while the Philadelphia Phillies' game against the Detroit Tigers was reset for 6:05 p.m. on Thursday, originally a day off for both teams.

 In a statement, MLB emphasized that these postponements were made after extensive consultations with medical and weather experts. And with the impacted clubs. But the clearly hazardous air quality conditions prevail in both cities.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued an air quality alert for New York City, with the New York State Department of Health recommending limiting outdoor physical activity to reduce the risk of adverse health effects.

In Philadelphia, the NWS issued a Code Red alert, signaling the severity of the air quality situation.

As the Canadian wildfires continue to rage and emit smoke, it is crucial for authorities and communities to prioritize the safety and well-being of residents in both Canada and the United States.