Canadian wildfire smoke is continuing to impact people across the eastern U.S. as some school districts canceled outdoor activities.
Over 200 wildfires across Canada have caused smoke in the atmosphere across various provinces and U.S. states, including in the Midwest and Northeast.
The federal AirNow fire and smoke map indicated Wednesday that air was considered “unhealthy” in parts of New York, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Connecticut, Indiana, and North Carolina and to reduce exposure outdoors.
Here’s how some districts across the eastern U.S. have responded to the haze, including some that have cancelled activities due to the air quality.
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New York City
New York City Public Schools have cancelled all outdoor activities for Wednesday while schools remain open. The district’s after-school programs are still running without any outdoor activities.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement Wednesday recommending that districts cancel outdoor activities, adding that multiple districts in the state had already moved to cancel outdoor activities.
“I support their decisions and the decisions of other districts to suspend outdoor school activities and strongly urge those who have not yet done so to follow suit,” she said.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia School District spokesperson Monique Braxton said in a statement students and staff “should remain indoors and limit time outside.”
Braxton said outside activities like field trips and field days should be postponed and schools already on a field trip should move indoors. “Recess and all outside activities should be moved indoors if possible or canceled,” the statement added.
Washington, D.C.
The District of Columbia Public Schools cancelled outdoor recess, physical education classes, both athletic practices and competitions in the area, and any outdoor school events or field trips, it announced in a tweet Wednesday.
Syracuse, New York
The Syracuse City School District cancelled all outdoor activities including recess and physical education classes on both Tuesday and Wednesday, citing the poor air quality.
East Ramapo and Clarkstown, New York
Both the East Ramapo and Clarkstown school districts moved physical education classes indoor and postponed all field days and outdoor activities Wednesday.
Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
The Hastings-on-Hudson school district opted to move both recess and physical education classes indoors, use busses to transport to and from a middle school program, keep windows closed if the temperature is not too high, and use air conditioning and air purifiers as much as possible.
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers school district cancelled all outdoor activities and is aiming to keep windows of classrooms closed. The school district also cancelled all school trips outdoors.
Clifton, New Jersey
The Clifton Public School District opted to cancel all afterschool activities and put air purifiers in the classrooms of district schools.
Dover, New Jersey
Dover Public Schools had all of its outdoor activities canceled Wednesday due to the smoke in the area.
Sussex, New Jersey
At the High Point Regional School District, which encompasses Branchville, Frankford, Lafayette, Montague, Sussex, and Wantage, students received early dismissal from their schools and the high school’s pep rally and powderpuff football game was postponed.
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Flanders, New Jersey
Mount Olive Township School District students also received early dismissal from school on Wednesday.
Haledon, New Jersey
Prospect Park School District schools had early dismissal at 12:45 p.m. on Wednesday and the Boys and Girls Club was cancelled.
Wayne, New Jersey
The Wayne Township School District had early dismissal and afterschool programs canceled Wednesday.
