Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Western Canada has made its way eastward, creating dangerous air pollution levels in major Canadian cities, including Toronto, as well as areas across the upper Midwest in the U.S. Following a hot weekend, Toronto experienced hazy skies, prompting Environment Canada to issue an air quality alert. By early Monday afternoon, Toronto's air quality ranked among the lowest globally, based on reports from IQAir, a global air monitoring service.
Officials recommend that residents in Toronto and much of Ontario limit outdoor activities, a precaution also echoed for Saskatoon, Saskatchewan's largest city. Similarly, the Great Lakes region in the U.S. has witnessed a decline in air quality, particularly in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, western New York, and northern Pennsylvania.
According to Ian Hubbard, a meteorologist from Environment Canada, wildfire smoke can remain high up without severely impacting human health. However, when the smoke sinks closer to the ground, air quality deteriorates rapidly. Despite expectations for some improvement in Toronto's air quality, elevated temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) are projected to persist throughout the week.
While the wildfire situation in Canada isn't as severe as the record-setting fires of 2023, the current crisis in Manitoba is notable, representing the worst fire season in over 30 years, according to officials. Premier Wab Kinew declared a state of emergency for the second time in a week to mobilize resources and assist in evacuations, with at least two fatalities linked to the fires and over 30,000 residents forced to evacuate their homes.
The smoke from these wildfires has also sparked tensions between the United States and Canada, already strained by trade disagreements. In a recent public letter, six Republican lawmakers from Wisconsin and Minnesota criticized the Canadian government for the smoke affecting their states. Tom Tiffany, a Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, took to social media, emphasizing his concern over Canadian forest management and sharing a video of the affected sky.
Wildfires in Canada are frequently ignited in hard-to-reach remote areas, with lightning being the primary ignition source. As the situation develops, residents are urged to stay informed about air quality reports and evacuation updates.
