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.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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)

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)

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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 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)

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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 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)

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

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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 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)

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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)

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)

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

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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)

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)

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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)

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)

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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 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)

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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)

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)

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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 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)

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