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Over 800 active wildfires in Canada/Smoke reaches US, causes air quality alarm

2026-07-17 07:38:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Over 800 active wildfires in Canada/Smoke reaches US, causes air quality alarm

More than 800 wildfires continue to burn across Canada, while thick smoke has engulfed large parts of the United States, forcing authorities to issue hazardous air quality alerts in several states.

According to the Canadian Forest Fire Information System, there are currently 858 active fires, most of which are out of control. On Thursday alone, 30 new fires were recorded.

Smoke has blanketed cities such as Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Toledo and New York, while authorities have urged citizens to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities due to the serious health risk.

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul declared the situation a public health emergency, saying smoke had blanketed much of the state and made it too dangerous to be outside. In New York City, cooling centers were opened and KN95 masks were distributed to residents.

Meanwhile, Detroit's air quality was ranked as the worst in the world by international platform IQAir, followed by Minneapolis, Chicago and Toronto.

The fires have also prompted evacuations in northern Ontario. Residents of several indigenous communities have been forced to flee their homes, while the chief of the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, Helen Paavola, said her settlement has been "completely destroyed."

"Every house is gone. There's nothing left ," she said after an aerial survey of the area.

Due to the smoke, dozens of outdoor activities have been canceled, including summer camps for children, while a concert by the band "The Black Keys" in Chicago has been postponed.

Meteorologists warn that winds will continue to carry the smoke towards the northern US over the weekend, raising concerns that it could also affect the New Jersey area, where the World Cup final is expected to be held on Sunday.

Experts say forest fires have become more frequent and intense in recent years, driven by climate change, higher temperatures and drying soil. They warn that completely extinguishing them is extremely difficult due to the size and intensity of the flames. /CNA





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