STURBRIDGE, Mass. - ​Clearer skies on Tuesday, but on Monday afternoon residents across Central Massachusetts reported seeing and smelling smoke. 

The hazy sky and smell of smoke was from wildfires happening on the West Coast and in Canada. 

Sturbridge fire chief, John Grasso Jr., said the department received anywhere from eight to ten calls from concerned residents about the conditions. 

Chief Grasso said residents weren't sure if the hot weather was causing the hazy skies or if something was burning. 

"We received a number of calls from residents in town asking about the air quality and haziness. Most of it is from the wildfires west and Canada," said Chief Grasso. "They sensed it was smoke. Some of them smelled it and called asking if someone was burning anything or if there was a fire burning somewhere." 

What You Need To Know

  • West coast and Canada wildfires created hazy skies in Massachusetts
  • Some residents reported smelling smoke Monday afternoon
  • Sturbridge fire department said it is rare to see remnants of a wildfire so far away
  • Wildfires are down in Central Massachusetts because of the wet weather

In Sturbridge, small wildfires are common, but Chief Grasso said seeing and smelling smoke from a wildfire as far away as Canada is unusual. 

The summer is a busy season for wildfire in Sturbridge, but the extremely wet weather has helped keep them down. 

"This is quite unusual. Even some of the bigger fires that happen out west we don't always get to see remnants of it," Grasso said. "It has been unusually wet this year, so our instances of wildfires are actually down which is a big benefit."

The air quality is expected to improve later in the day on Tuesday.