Detroit halts outdoor events as air quality reaches hazardous levels from Canadian wildfires

Mayor Mary Sheffield announced that Detroit has extended its Air Quality Alert through Saturday and cancelled all city‑wide outdoor events, including the Occupy the Summer program. Non‑essential city employees are working from home, while recreation centers have been opened as free‑access respite sites with masks available.

Public health officials warned that the Air Quality Index has risen above the hazardous threshold of 301, reporting values over 600 in parts of the city and exceeding 7,800 in southern Michigan. The city ranked the worst in the world on Friday, according to IQAir, with Detroit at 438. Residents were urged to stay indoors, keep windows closed, limit physical activity, and wear masks if they must go outside.

The Health Department also directed people to check real‑time air quality data on airnow.gov and to use the provided recreation centers for relief from the smoke generated by the Canadian wildfires.