Manhattan shrouded in smoke as wildfires rage in US

Manhattan has been shrouded in smoke and soot as wildfires continue to rage across the US.

The fires have been spreading across the western United States and Canada for weeks, including a “monster” two-week-old blaze in Oregon.

The fire, just north of the California state line, had grown to 476 square miles on Monday and destroyed 67 homes.

More than 80 active wildfires have charred almost 1.3 million acres of drought-parched vegetation in recent weeks, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

In Manhattan the air quality index for fine particulate matter reached a shocking 170 on Tuesday, a level considered harmful.

The figure is nine times above exposure recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Philadelphia reportedly hit 172.

“Wildfire smoke exposure ... increases susceptibility to respiratory infections including Covid, increases severity of such infections and makes recovery more difficult,” federal air resource adviser Margaret Key told Reuters.

Although the increased index affects vulnerable groups, including pregnant women and the elderly, it is also known to affect healthy people.

It can cause breathing difficulty, throat irritation and watery eyes.

Incident commander Rob Allen said in his daily report that tinder-dry fuels within the fire zone would “continue to burn and produce smoke for weeks”.

“Fighting this fire is a marathon, not a sprint,” he said.

“We’re in this for as long as it takes to safely contain this monster.”