1 00:00:01,067 --> 00:00:03,403 GEOFF BENNETT: Welcome to the "NewsHour." 2 00:00:03,403 --> 00:00:08,908 A heavy pall of polluted air still blankets much of the Eastern U.S. tonight. It may 3 00:00:08,908 --> 00:00:14,381 not dissipate for days, as fires in Canada send vast curtains of smoke drifting south. 4 00:00:14,381 --> 00:00:19,285 AMNA NAWAZ: The bad air has officials warning, in effect, that breathing can be hazardous to 5 00:00:19,285 --> 00:00:22,789 your health. It's also scrambling schedules, from airports to schools to the White House. 6 00:00:22,789 --> 00:00:26,026 Stephanie Sy has our report. 7 00:00:26,026 --> 00:00:32,332 STEPHANIE SY: A huge swathe of the country spent another day shrouded in haze. This morning, 8 00:00:32,332 --> 00:00:36,202 smoke still obscured parts of the Manhattan skyline. 9 00:00:36,202 --> 00:00:39,072 JOHN CHAN, New York City Resident: The smoke obliterated the island yesterday. So, 10 00:00:39,072 --> 00:00:46,846 it is obviously not a passing phase of wind changes, but it's serious pollution in the air. 11 00:00:46,846 --> 00:00:52,919 STEPHANIE SY: As hundreds of wildfires rage out of control in Canada, winds have carried the 12 00:00:52,919 --> 00:00:58,658 smoke farther south, all the way to Raleigh, North Carolina, which woke up to hazy skies. 13 00:00:58,658 --> 00:01:02,595 And in the nation's capital, a blanket of smoke lay over the White House, 14 00:01:02,595 --> 00:01:05,965 blurring the Washington Monument in the distance. 15 00:01:05,965 --> 00:01:09,669 White House officials postponed today's outdoor Pride celebration until Saturday. 16 00:01:12,439 --> 00:01:17,977 Millions of people were under hazardous air quality advisory today from the Northeast 17 00:01:17,977 --> 00:01:23,316 to the South and parts of the Midwest. Authorities advised people to stay indoors, 18 00:01:23,316 --> 00:01:26,653 especially young children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues. 19 00:01:30,490 --> 00:01:36,863 Allergy and immunology specialist Dr. Purvi Parikh described the health risks. 20 00:01:36,863 --> 00:01:40,300 DR. PURVI PARIKH, Allergy and Asthma Network: Wildfire smoke has particulate matter. It's very, 21 00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:46,005 very small. And that small particulate matter can really get lodged deep into your lungs. 22 00:01:46,005 --> 00:01:50,844 So it can cause a lot more lung damage in the short term and long term. And in addition to 23 00:01:50,844 --> 00:01:57,550 these particles, wildfire smoke has a variety of gases too that can be harmful to breathe in. 24 00:01:57,550 --> 00:02:02,322 STEPHANIE SY: New York state is making a million N95 masks available to the public, 25 00:02:02,322 --> 00:02:06,059 including 400,000 for New York City. 26 00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:11,331 MAN: Just want to make sure that we are being a safe as we can to protect our health. 27 00:02:11,331 --> 00:02:16,202 STEPHANIE SY: The city's mayor, Eric Adams, has gone door to door 28 00:02:16,202 --> 00:02:21,107 disturbing masks to residents. He says the worst of the air may be behind the city. 29 00:02:21,107 --> 00:02:23,576 ERIC ADAMS (D), Mayor of New York: The smoke models are not indicating 30 00:02:23,576 --> 00:02:28,114 another large plume over the city, so there is a chance for significant 31 00:02:28,114 --> 00:02:31,918 improvement by tomorrow morning and throughout the day tomorrow. 32 00:02:31,918 --> 00:02:35,488 STEPHANIE SY: Even so, New York City announced public schools will teach remotely tomorrow. 33 00:02:38,024 --> 00:02:42,962 Meantime, poor visibility prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel 34 00:02:42,962 --> 00:02:46,533 or delay flights into New York area airports and Philadelphia's international airport. 35 00:02:48,935 --> 00:02:53,806 The dangerous air quality also canceled or postponed more sporting events, 36 00:02:53,806 --> 00:02:57,243 from racing at Belmont Park in New York to the Washington Nationals' home baseball game. 37 00:02:59,579 --> 00:03:03,583 New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy says the harmful impact of the 38 00:03:03,583 --> 00:03:07,654 fires is further proof we must do more to tackle the climate crisis. 39 00:03:07,654 --> 00:03:10,657 GOV. PHIL MURPHY (D-NJ): Climate change is here. And, unfortunately, 40 00:03:10,657 --> 00:03:17,096 this is our reality. That disturbing orange haze in the sky, the smell of smoke and that burning 41 00:03:17,096 --> 00:03:21,901 in our throats, those are clear warning signs that the status quo cannot continue. 42 00:03:21,901 --> 00:03:27,307 STEPHANIE SY: Paul Ullrich, a professor of regional climate modeling at U.C. Davis, agrees. 43 00:03:27,307 --> 00:03:30,510 PAUL ULLRICH, University of California, Davis: We are experiencing warmer conditions and more 44 00:03:30,510 --> 00:03:37,717 extremes every year. We have some manifestation of that, whether it be an extreme tropical cyclone, 45 00:03:37,717 --> 00:03:44,224 an extreme wildfire, tornado outbreaks or other forms of extreme weather. 46 00:03:44,224 --> 00:03:50,263 So the evidence is continuing to pile up that we are having a clear impact on the climate system, 47 00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:53,166 and, as a consequence, the climate system is having an impact on us. 48 00:03:53,166 --> 00:03:57,904 STEPHANIE SY: With more than 400 wildfires still burning 49 00:03:57,904 --> 00:04:03,309 in Canada, forecasters worn the smoke could linger over the Eastern U.S. through the weekend. 50 00:04:03,309 --> 00:04:05,111 For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Stephanie Sy.