Wildfire smoke from raging fires in Canada and Minnesota is currently affecting air quality across 20 U.S. states, prompting air quality alerts in the Northeast and Midwest. A Code Purple alert has been issued statewide in response to the pollution, marking the first occurrence of such an alert. Major cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia are facing some of the worst air quality levels globally. Residents are advised to stay indoors and monitor their health as the heavy smoke blankets regions, causing hazards and several event cancellations. Experts expect the smoky conditions to persist, with various forecasts indicating the hazardous air quality may linger for several days.