By Scott Fallon, NorthJersey.com

A raging wildfire outside Halifax about 600 miles away from North Jersey has burned through 2,000 acres of forest and damaged at least 200 homes and businesses. The fire was expected to spread today due to dry conditions and persistent wind, according to the Canadian Broadcast Corporation.

Smoke arrived in the region Tuesday afternoon propelled by southwesterly winds causing hazy skies across much of the Northeast. The plume was so dense that some residents in New England reported the air smelled like a campfire.

Smoke from Nova Scotia fires wafts into U.S. 

Air quality is expected to take a dive Wednesday in North Jersey and the New York metropolitan region as more smoke from Nova Scotia wildfires is expected to inundate the region.

Small particles from burning wood will cause an orange alert for most of New Jersey, according to a forecast from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Young children, the elderly, and those with lung conditions such as asthma and emphysema are particularly vulnerable in an orange alert. They are advised to stay indoors.

Wednesday will likely be the worst day of the week. Air quality is forecasted to improve Thursday.

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