New York City has been plunged into a “Gotham nightmare” as toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires engulfed the iconic skyline, triggering severe health warnings just days before the World Cup Final. An eerie, thick orange haze choked the Big Apple on Thursday (July 16), with intense heat trapping dangerous pollutants in the atmosphere. The conditions deteriorated so rapidly that pollution experts warned that breathing the air was the equivalent of smoking 10 cigarettes a day. The crisis has sparked urgent public health warnings across the US, with residents advised to stay indoors, avoid outdoor exercise, and mask up. The smoke has turned the skies above Manhattan and The Bronx a apocalyptic orange, forcing commuters and even community basketball players to dust off N95 masks. Wildfire smoke is significantly more dangerous than standard air pollution. Because the Canadian blazes have consumed cars and buildings, the resulting plumes carry highly toxic traces of chemicals, metals, plastics and synthetic materials. Michael Petroni, a pollution expert, told the New York Post: “The rule of thumb is about 20 AQI …