![A man wearing a face mask on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, June 8.](https://imagenes.elpais.com/resizer/v2/6IC4Q2REZWYL4TJML2W5276OHE.jpg?auth=1853cc14b68ad55d3060cfda78bf77e3bf01651bad449f6c977213cb142c5723&width=414&height=233&smart=true)
How wildfires made New York’s air unbreathable: ‘It’s like being at a barbecue, engulfed in smoke’
Although air quality began to improve on Friday, the effects of the devastating blazes in neighboring Canada prompted authorities to hand out a million free face masks while flights and outdoor activities were canceled