Canada’s wildfires choke North America as smoke engulfs US cities
Canada is battling more than 800 active wildfires, with smoke drifting south to blanket large parts of the United States in hazardous air, forcing millions indoors and disrupting daily life across the Great Lakes and Midwest.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported 857 fires burning nationwide on Thursday, including 23 new outbreaks. Most are out of control, with Ontario’s western cluster sending thick plumes across Thunder Bay and Toronto. High‑altitude smoke has spread further, tinting skies over New York and the Northeast with a reddish haze.
The US National Weather Service (NOAA) issued alerts spanning Michigan, Minnesota and into the Northeast, warning residents to avoid outdoor activity. Detroit’s air quality ranked worst in the world on Thursday, according to Swiss tracker IQAir, followed by Minneapolis and Toronto.
Northwesterly winds are expected to continue pushing smoke into northern US states through the weekend, raising concerns it could reach New Jersey during Sunday’s World Cup final. Meteorologists say thunderstorms forecast for Ontario may bring some relief, but rainfall is unlikely to significantly reduce fire activity. By Monday, shifting winds should steer smoke toward Quebec, easing conditions further south.
The fires have produced dramatic scenes. In Ontario, video captured a freight train surrounded by flames near Armstrong, prompting an emergency rescue of trapped workers. Canadian National Rail confirmed all staff were evacuated safely, though operations in the region have been suspended.
Algeria’s civil protection department has reported nearly 1,000 fires in a week amid a heatwave, underscoring how climate extremes are fuelling simultaneous crises across continents. For North America, the Canadian blazes highlight the fragility of air quality systems and the growing reach of wildfire smoke, which now routinely crosses borders and disrupts international events.
Source: BBC
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