Tech giant Google has told employees in the East Coast to work from home as wildfires continue to smother New York City and other Northeast cities.
In a memo to workers, the company said due to the ongoing smoke that is shrouding the north east of the country they would be advising workers to stay home.
In a notice seen by CNBC, the company said: ‘We are advising Googlers to work from home if possible, and limit their exposure to outdoor air.
‘Terraces across our New York campus will remain closed today.’
NBC reported the company then issued advisory notices to workers in the Detroit area, Washington D.C., Virginia, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina.
In a memo to workers, the company said due to the smoke they would be advising workers to stay home
People walk across Brooklyn Bridge in smoky conditions caused by Canadian wildfires
In Canada, which is on track to experience its worst-ever wildfire season, Google notified employees in the Ontario cities of Toronto and Waterloo.
The memo on Wednesday advised employees to remain indoors, ‘avoid vigorous physical activity’ and run their air conditioners with clean filters, according to NBC.
The site leads assured those who are already working on site that their campuses’ HVAC and air filtration systems ‘maintain a high quality of air inside our offices even in these circumstances.’
A sheet of smoke from the wildfires first descended on New York on Tuesday before thickening throughout the afternoon and into Wednesday, leaving those in Manhattan unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River.
As well as sending New Yorkers inside, air quality alerts were also introduced in states including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas, according to the National Weather Service.
Health experts have warned breathing the fog can be as damaging as smoking 22 cigarettes a day.
Nanoparticles from the smog are so small they can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream, with side effects also including irritation to the eyes and throat as well as breathing problems.
The Manhattan skyline is shrouded in smoke as people ride the Staten Island ferry during smokey conditions caused by the Canadian wildfires
A family cross the road after leaving a wedding during smoky conditions on Wednesday
The Federal Aviation Administration paused some flights bound for LaGuardia Airport and slowed planes to Newark Liberty and Philadelphia due to limited visibility
At around 10pm Tuesday, New York was briefly recorded as having the worst air pollution in the world, overtaking the Indian capital of Delhi.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged vulnerable residents to be cautious amid the crisis, as he also blamed climate change for the yellow skies.
‘This may be the first time we’ve experienced something like this on this magnitude,’ he said. ‘Let me be clear, it’s not the last.’
The city’s health advisory warning has since been extended until 8pm Thursday, as officials warned residents to avoid strenuous activity outside and to stay indoors when possible.