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Heavy smoke from wildfires is darkening skies from the US Midwest to the East Coast, in photos

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Heavy smoke from wildfires is darkening skies from the US Midwest to the East Coast, in photos
News

News

Heavy smoke from wildfires is darkening skies from the US Midwest to the East Coast, in photos

2026-07-18 20:19 Last Updated At:20:30

Heavy, pungent wildfire smoke darkened skies in the U.S. on Thursday from the Great Lakes to parts of the East Coast, reducing visibility and prompting warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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Light reflects off the water as the sun sets through wildfire smoke over Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)

Light reflects off the water as the sun sets through wildfire smoke over Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)

The Sun has an orange cast from smoke coming down from the Canadian wildfires as it sets near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The Sun has an orange cast from smoke coming down from the Canadian wildfires as it sets near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

A watercraft sits in the Detroit River near the skyline during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A watercraft sits in the Detroit River near the skyline during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michael Lesperance weeds his driveway wearing a mask during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michael Lesperance weeds his driveway wearing a mask during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The New York City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The New York City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The Jersey City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The Jersey City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as people run in front of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as people run in front of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as it rises behind the Marine Corps War Memorial, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as it rises behind the Marine Corps War Memorial, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The Statue of Liberty stands during sunset as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty stands during sunset as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

National Guardsmen patrol the Lincoln Memorial as the sun, obscured by wildfire smoke, rises above the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

National Guardsmen patrol the Lincoln Memorial as the sun, obscured by wildfire smoke, rises above the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

A child looks out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as smoke from wildfires in Northwestern Ontario blankets the city of Toronto, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

A child looks out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as smoke from wildfires in Northwestern Ontario blankets the city of Toronto, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

A person wearing a mask takes the Staten Island Ferry as as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person wearing a mask takes the Staten Island Ferry as as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The New York City skyline is shrouded in smoke as a flag flies in a park in Weehawken, N.J., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The New York City skyline is shrouded in smoke as a flag flies in a park in Weehawken, N.J., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People take the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People take the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Wildfire smoke blankets Vandercook Lake as a fisherman tries his luck on Thursday, July 16, 2026, near Jackson, Mich., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)

Wildfire smoke blankets Vandercook Lake as a fisherman tries his luck on Thursday, July 16, 2026, near Jackson, Mich., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)

A person wearing a mask cycles in Times Square as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person wearing a mask cycles in Times Square as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Detroit city skyline is obscured during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Detroit city skyline is obscured during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Hazy skies from Canadian wildfires cover Silver Beach and Lake Michigan, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in St. Joseph, Mich. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

Hazy skies from Canadian wildfires cover Silver Beach and Lake Michigan, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in St. Joseph, Mich. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

A person uses binoculars to look out as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky at Top of The Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person uses binoculars to look out as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky at Top of The Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A golfer checks his score card at Willow Hills Golf course during poor air quality due to dense smoke from Canadian wildfires in Northbrook, Ill., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A golfer checks his score card at Willow Hills Golf course during poor air quality due to dense smoke from Canadian wildfires in Northbrook, Ill., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A person looks out a window at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck as wildfire smoke hangs over New York, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person looks out a window at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck as wildfire smoke hangs over New York, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty is photographed from the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty is photographed from the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Light reflects off the water as the sun sets through wildfire smoke over Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)

Light reflects off the water as the sun sets through wildfire smoke over Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Bao)

The Sun has an orange cast from smoke coming down from the Canadian wildfires as it sets near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

The Sun has an orange cast from smoke coming down from the Canadian wildfires as it sets near the Philadelphia Phillies scoreboard during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

A watercraft sits in the Detroit River near the skyline during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A watercraft sits in the Detroit River near the skyline during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michael Lesperance weeds his driveway wearing a mask during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Michael Lesperance weeds his driveway wearing a mask during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The New York City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The New York City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The Jersey City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The Jersey City skyline is seen through a cover of wildfire smoke, in Jersey City, N.J., Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as people run in front of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as people run in front of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as it rises behind the Marine Corps War Memorial, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The sun is obscured by wildfire smoke as it rises behind the Marine Corps War Memorial, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

The Statue of Liberty stands during sunset as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty stands during sunset as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

National Guardsmen patrol the Lincoln Memorial as the sun, obscured by wildfire smoke, rises above the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

National Guardsmen patrol the Lincoln Memorial as the sun, obscured by wildfire smoke, rises above the Washington Monument and the Reflecting Pool, Friday, July 17, 2026, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

A child looks out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as smoke from wildfires in Northwestern Ontario blankets the city of Toronto, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

A child looks out from the observation deck of the CN Tower as smoke from wildfires in Northwestern Ontario blankets the city of Toronto, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press via AP)

A person wearing a mask takes the Staten Island Ferry as as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person wearing a mask takes the Staten Island Ferry as as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The New York City skyline is shrouded in smoke as a flag flies in a park in Weehawken, N.J., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The New York City skyline is shrouded in smoke as a flag flies in a park in Weehawken, N.J., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

People take the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

People take the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Wildfire smoke blankets Vandercook Lake as a fisherman tries his luck on Thursday, July 16, 2026, near Jackson, Mich., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)

Wildfire smoke blankets Vandercook Lake as a fisherman tries his luck on Thursday, July 16, 2026, near Jackson, Mich., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (J. Scott Park/Jackson Citizen Patriot via AP)

A person wearing a mask cycles in Times Square as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person wearing a mask cycles in Times Square as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Detroit city skyline is obscured during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Detroit city skyline is obscured during poor air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Hazy skies from Canadian wildfires cover Silver Beach and Lake Michigan, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in St. Joseph, Mich. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

Hazy skies from Canadian wildfires cover Silver Beach and Lake Michigan, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in St. Joseph, Mich. (Don Campbell/The Herald-Palladium via AP)

A person uses binoculars to look out as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky at Top of The Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person uses binoculars to look out as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky at Top of The Rock observation deck at the Rockefeller Center, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A golfer checks his score card at Willow Hills Golf course during poor air quality due to dense smoke from Canadian wildfires in Northbrook, Ill., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A golfer checks his score card at Willow Hills Golf course during poor air quality due to dense smoke from Canadian wildfires in Northbrook, Ill., Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

A person looks out a window at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck as wildfire smoke hangs over New York, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

A person looks out a window at the Top of the Rock Observation Deck as wildfire smoke hangs over New York, Thursday, July 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty is photographed from the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

The Statue of Liberty is photographed from the Staten Island Ferry as smoke from wildfires blankets the sky, Thursday, July 16, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

ABOARD THE BRITISH PRIME MINISTER’S PLANE (AP) — Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Monday that Britain has agreed to provide limited military support to Saudi Arabia to repeal attacks by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Burnham told reporters as he flew to the United Nations General Assembly in New York that he had agreed the Royal Air Force will provide air-to-air refueling of Saudi planes. The agreement is for a matter of weeks, but Burnham said it will be kept under review.

The conflict between the Houthis and Yemen’s Saudi-backed government has reignited, with Houthis aiming missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia, including one that targeted Riyadh on Saturday before being intercepted. The Houthis also declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea, attacking Saudi-linked vessels and oil facilities inside the kingdom, the world’s top oil exporter.

The Houthis advanced inside Yemen earlier this month, seizing the crucial port city of Mokha and key Red Sea islands allowing them to better monitor shipping traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb, through which some 12% of world trade normally passes.

Burnham said he was “acting to secure the interests of Britain and the wider region, because of course Saudi Arabia has been experiencing attack, is looking at potential further disruption, and we need to keep those pathways (for oil) open.”

Britain has condemned the Houthi attacks and said the U.K. will “work with partners to support regional stability, protect civilians and support humanitarian access.”

U.K. officials had previously declined to comment on “operational matters” but noted that Britain and Saudi Arabia have a close defense partnership.

The U.S., which bombed the Houthis under the Biden and Trump administrations, has shown no interest in getting involved military this time around. one more sentence:

U.K. officials say the agreement will start in the coming days, and involve one RAF Voyager refueling Saudi planes on “defensive” missions.

The Associated Press reported last week that Saudi Arabia has asked its allies, including France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to deploy air-defense support to the region to help defend against missiles and drones fired by Houthis and other Iran-backed groups on the kingdom.

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives a speech during a reception at 10 Downing Street, London, Monday Sept. 21, 2026, to recognise the contribution of organisations and volunteers who supported communities across the UK this summer, through the recent heatwaves, wildfires and other emergencies. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)

Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham gives a speech during a reception at 10 Downing Street, London, Monday Sept. 21, 2026, to recognise the contribution of organisations and volunteers who supported communities across the UK this summer, through the recent heatwaves, wildfires and other emergencies. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)

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