32 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleEsme Stallard,Senior climate and science reporter,Erwan Rivault,Senior data designer andPilar Tomas,Senior visual journalist
Cole Burston/ AFP/Getty ImagesCities across northeast Canada and the US are suffering from intense smoke brought on by wildfires burning across Ontario and Minnesota.
Residents in New York, Boston and Toronto have been encouraged to avoid “strenuous activity” over potential health impacts caused by the pollution.
There are currently 858 wildfires actively burning across Canada – nearly 200 of those in Ontario – according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre.
Along the northern edge of Minnesota there are 17 fires that are still burning and an emergency declaration is in place to help mobilise suppression efforts.
In Ontario, the fires are north of Lake Superior in more remote parts of the province, but within or close to national parks and First Nation communities.
So far, six communities are are under evacuation orders with reports of damage to properties.
Grand Council Chief Linda Debassige said in a statement on Wednesday that the remote Namaygoosisagagun First Nation in northern Ontario was “devastated by an unexpected and fast-moving wildfire” that severely damaged homes and community buildings.
Wildfires are very common in Canada, but the number of outbreaks has rapidly increased in recent weeks.
The National Interagency Fire Centre in the US and Natural Resources Canada predicted this was likely because of sustained hot weather at the end of June across northern Ontario, and below average rainfall.
This hot weather is being caused by a heat dome – an area of high pressure that gets stuck trapping warm air and the smoke underneath.
Extreme and long-lasting heat draws more moisture out of soils and plants – this dry vegetation acts as fuel for fires.
But this hot air can also become unstable causing the risk of storms which can produce strong winds – causing the fires and smoke to spread.
Satellite images over the past few days show the wind carrying smoke primarily southeast from Ontario across to Toronto, New York State and reaching Boston.
IQAir, a company which tracks global air quality, ranked Detroit, Toronto and Minneapolis as the cities currently with the worst air quality in the world.
Wildfire smoke is hazardous for humans as it contains a mixture of very small polluting particles like PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide.
“These particles when they get into our system get all the way down into our lungs, all the way down to our tiny breathing tubes and… they cause inflammation,” said Jim McDonald, New York State Department of Health commissioner in a public address video on social media.
The smoke can exacerbate existing respiratory, heart, kidney and eye conditions, according to the World Health Organization.
Emergency responders, and vulnerable groups such as those with chronic illnesses and children – who are closer to the ground where the smoke can sink – are most at risk.
Governments will issue warnings depending on the air quality level which advises people on precautions to take. For example, an orange alert means people are advised to:
- avoid strenuous outdoor activities
- stay indoors and close windows
- wear a well-fitting N95 mask
- seek medical attention for symptoms which include wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain.
KN95 or N95 masks should be able to filter out 95% of these tiny particles – although there are still risks. There are fraudulent copies being sold online so make sure it is government certified. Many cities have activated their air quality emergency protocols and are distributing masks at local centres.
For further information on your local air quality alerts, consult this site if you’re in Canada, and here if you’re in the US.
Wind patterns suggest that the smoke will start to move south down to Virginia and parts of North Carolina – with their exposure ramping up through Friday.
A second smoke plume has been forecast to hit New York and Boston later on Thursday.
The Commissioner for the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Amanda Lefton, said on social media: “Much of New York will see visible smoke throughout the state. This will likely be a prolonged effect, and we might see even worst air quality.”
There is some concern that smoke will still be lingering come Sunday when the final for the football World Cup is scheduled at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey – especially because it is an open-air venue.
By Monday a change in wind direction is expected to bring some relief to US cities.
The long-term fire outlook for the season suggests the wildfire risk will continue to be above normal in the Canadian Northwest Territories, Ontario and Quebec throughout July and August.
Government of Manitoba /Handout/Getty ImagesWildfires are a natural part of boreal forests – of which Canada has vast swathes. However, they have worsened in recent years.
The 2023 fires razed 15 million hectares (37 million acres) – an area larger than England – while the 2025 blazes burned 8.3 million hectares (20.5 million acres).
In Canada, half of wildfires are sparked by lightning and the rest from human activity – but drier soils and vegetation increase the likelihood.
Increasing global temperatures as a result of climate change is making heatwaves more frequent and severe, contributing to such conditions.
Climate change is also increasing the temperature over winter.
These milder conditions in the first part of the year can stimulate earlier plant growth providing more fuel for burning, and reduces the amount of snow cover. Snow, with its very white surface, helps to reflect the sun’s radiation and has a cooling effect. The less snow, the hotter it becomes.
Air pollutionWildfiresClimateCanadaUnited States
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