The Big Apple now 'the Big Orange'

New York City gasping for breath as Canada wildfires sweep US northeast

Haze and smoke with dangerous fumes from hundreds of Canadian wildfires covered most of the US northeast for a second day Wednesday, with New York City experiencing the world's worst air quality over the last two days.

The Big Apple became "the Big Orange" by midday Wednesday as the sky over the nation's largest city plunged into a deep hazy orange. Streets in Manhattan resembled what they were like during the COVID-19 pandemic as residents and commuters again wore masks and heeded warnings from health officials about the impact of fine particles known as PM2.5, which can lead to respiratory illnesses.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the air quality "an emergency crisis" and said Wednesday that the state is making 1 million N95 masks available to the public.