Wildfire smoke updates: CDC issues health alert on wildfire smoke exposure

The smoke is forecast to dissipate over the weekend.

ByKenton Gewecke, Max Golembo, Melissa Griffin, Morgan Winsor, Emily Shapiro, and Meredith Deliso

Last Updated: June 30, 2023, 9:56 PM EDT

Millions of Americans are on alert for unhealthy air quality as smoke from wildfires in neighboring Canada drifts to the United States.

Wildfires have burned a record of 20 million acres across Canada so far this year, with no end in sight. There are currently 500 active wildfires throughout the country and more than 250 have been deemed out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center. The smoke has been making its way to the U.S. for over a month.

Latest headlines:

Jun 30, 2023, 3:41 PM EDT
19 states under air quality alerts
Jun 30, 2023, 3:10 PM EDT
CDC issues health alert on wildfire smoke exposure
Jun 29, 2023, 1:58 PM EDT
Pittsburgh air quality 'very unhealthy,' MLB game delayed
Jun 28, 2023, 10:33 AM EDT
How to stay safe from wildfire smoke amid reduced air quality

Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.

Jun 29, 2023, 3:47 PM EDT

Air quality alerts in 21 states

Air quality alerts are in effect in 21 states Thursday afternoon as the Canadian wildfire smoke infiltrates the Midwest, Northeast and parts of the South.

Wildfire smoke covers the ferris wheel on Navy Pier on June 28, 2023 in Chicago.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Jun 29, 2023, 1:58 PM EDT

Pittsburgh air quality 'very unhealthy,' MLB game delayed

The Air Quality Index in Pittsburgh climbed to 231 Thursday afternoon, which falls under the "very unhealthy" category. Any number over 100 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Thursday afternoon's MLB game in Pittsburgh between the Pirates and San Diego Padres was delayed 45 minutes due to the poor air quality, according to The Associated Press.

With the baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres delayed due to haze from Canadian wildfires fans take their seats at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Gene J. Puskar/AP

With the baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres delayed due to haze from Canadian wildfires, Pirates starting pitcher Luis Ortiz walks to the bullpen to begin warming up at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, June 29, 2023.
Gene J. Puskar/AP

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey is encouraging residents to stay inside on Thursday.

Jun 29, 2023, 1:14 PM EDT

New York to roll out air quality phone alerts

New York will be rolling out phone alerts to remind residents to take precautions amid the poor air quality, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursday.

The Air Quality Index is currently in the "unhealthy" category in Rochester and Buffalo.

"The truth is, there is no end in sight," Hochul said at news conference, noting the conditions could linger off and on through the summer. "This is the new normal for New Yorkers."

Phone alerts will be sent in areas where the Air Quality Index is above 200 for one hour or longer. Announcements will also be made on mass transit, where hundreds of thousands of masks will be handed out.

Hochul said it is too early to know about the air quality over the July 4 holiday.

“We don't know what is going to happen beyond the next couple days -- today will be very bad, tomorrow will be very bad. We expect to see the winds start to dissipate over the next couple days. It is impossible for us at this point to predict the holiday celebrations," she said.

Jackie Bray, commissioner of New York's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, added that it's "totally appropriate to keep the pools open today, totally appropriate for people to be out, as long as they don't fall into these sensitive groups."

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

Jun 29, 2023, 12:59 PM EDT