People walk near the White House in Washington, Thursday, June 8, 2023, as smoke from Canadian wildfires obscures the view. Air quality alerts in Washington, D.C., reached “code purple†status today, one notch below the “maroon†levels in neighbouring Baltimore. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Susan Walsh
WASHINGTON – Tourists in the U.S. capital are taking Canada’s prodigious wildfire smoke in stride.
Air quality alerts in Washington, D.C., reached “code purple” status today, one notch below the “maroon” levels in neighbouring Baltimore.
But while the grey haze made making out the Washington Monument and the Capitol difficult from a distance, it was a different story on the ground.
The usual crowds of visitors jammed the sidewalks along the National Mall, outside the White House and on the Capitol grounds, with only a relative handful opting for face masks.
One German couple said their day turned out far nicer than what forecasters had suggested – although they’re now worried that flight delays may thwart their plans to get home.
President Joe Biden says he has promised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau any additional help Canada might need to fight the wildfires ravaging Ontario and Quebec.
The U.S. National Interagency Fire Center, which has already deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters, is on standby to assist with Canadian requests for additional personnel and equipment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 8, 2023.
