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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)

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Explosions rocked an Ohio industrial recycling business Tuesday morning, sparking a large fire that drew a swarm of emergency responders. Two workers were unaccounted for and a few others had minor injuries, officials said.

The Toledo Fire & Rescue Department said there were two explosions at Brent Industries shortly before 5 a.m. TV news video showed fire engines surrounding the building as flames and dark smoke poured from the structure.

Fire Chief Allison Armstrong said the explosions came during a shift change at the business. She said it was not immediately clear whether the two workers who were unaccounted for were OK and just not answering their phones, but they were seen in the building before the explosion.

“We’re working to contain the fire and account for all the employees right now,” Armstrong said. “They’ve got hazardous materials in there, so we’re dealing with chemicals and runoff and tanks that exploded.”

She added, “If we’re missing people and we’re not sure if they’re in there, I mean that’s just terrible. And so you know we’re hoping that we can just account for the remaining employees and get the fire under control.”

Demetrius Langston said he felt the explosion half a mile (0.8 kilometers) away. He ran outside with his phone and captured video of a huge plume of smoke rising into the dark sky. As police cars raced up the street, he worried the city was under attack.

“The shock waves came down the block,” he said. “Then we all heard it again. Boom! You could feel it.”

Armstrong said there was still a major fire at the site at around 7:30 a.m. and at least half the building collapsed. She also said there were no preliminary indications of what caused the explosions.

Authorities urged the public to stay away from the area as crews worked to extinguish the blaze.

A phone message was left for Brent Industries.

The company, based in Brent, Alabama, offers textile reconditioning and industrial recycling services aimed at reducing waste and saving money, according to its website. It was founded in Alabama in 1977 and has operations in Brent and Toledo.

This image taken from video provided by WTVG shows firefighters working on the scene after an explosion at an industrial recycling business in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (WTVG via AP)

This image taken from video provided by WTVG shows firefighters working on the scene after an explosion at an industrial recycling business in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (WTVG via AP)

This image taken from video provided by WTVG shows firefighters working on the scene after an explosion at an industrial recycling business in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (WTVG via AP)

This image taken from video provided by WTVG shows firefighters working on the scene after an explosion at an industrial recycling business in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (WTVG via AP)

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