Wildfire Smoke Blankets New England, Triggers Regional Air Quality Alerts

A thick plume of wildfire smoke from Ontario and northern Minnesota has drifted into New England, triggering air quality alerts across the region. In Boston, the air quality index rose to about 130, deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, with guidance to limit outdoor activity for those with asthma or COPD. Forecasters expect a second wave of smoke Thursday afternoon, bringing more ground-level haze and vivid sunsets as the smoky plume lingers.