Forest Fires Ravage Canada, Raising Health Alerts

Updated June 28, 2023

• Over 80 million people remain under air quality warnings on the East Coast and in the Midwest.
• According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, more than 250 of Canada's forest fires are burning “out of control,” leading to the highest annual emissions on record for the country.
• The following states are under sweeping air quality warnings: Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Maryland, and Wisconsin. Parts of Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are under warnings as well.
• Chicago and Detroit had the worst air quality in the world Tuesday night. Heavy smoke is expected to return to New York later today and into Thursday.
• Wildfire smoke contains PM2.5, a particulate matter that can enter the lung tissue and bloodstream when inhaled. It can lead to respiratory problems and heart disease.

Updated June 9, 2023

• Smoke from the Canadian forest fires is lifting over Boston, New York, and Philadelphia, with poor air quality peaking late Wednesday, and is now moving south and east.
• Millions of Americans in the Northeast are still under air quality warnings, and people with asthma or pre-existing conditions are advised to take precautions.
• The smoke from the over 400 forest fires currently blazing throughout Canada can be seen from space and is obscuring the view of numerous Earth-observing satellites.
• Over 43,000 sq km have burned so far this year, making 2023 the second-worst year for fires on record — and the summer fire season has not even begun.
• The smoke has led to the cancellation or delay of over 330 flights thus far.

An intense, early fire season

• Forest fires have been raging across nearly every province in Canada, prompting air quality alerts throughout the U.S. as the smoke moves south and west. 
• Canada is facing an exceptionally early and intense wildfire season, with forecasts indicating that the warm and dry conditions will persist for several months.
• Wildfires have engulfed nearly all of Canada's 10 provinces and territories, hitting Quebec the hardest. Quebec alone has 160 fires raging, with many ignited by lightning strikes. Western Canada has frequent forest fires, but the flames' severity in the east is unprecedented.
• The fires have consumed nearly 13,000 square miles of land — 13 times the 10-year average. As a result, over 120,000 people have been temporarily displaced from their homes.

Health alerts 

• Even low concentrations of wildfire smoke can harm health. Individuals with lung or heart diseases, older adults, children, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to the health risks associated with wildfire smoke.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified the air quality in much of the north-east as "unhealthy," especially for people with respiratory concerns. In total, nearly 100 million people around North America are under an air quality warning.
• Concerns over air pollution have prompted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a health advisory for several counties, including the five boroughs of New York City. To minimize the risk of adverse health effects, residents are encouraged to reduce strenuous outdoor activities.
• Toronto and New York briefly ranked among the cities with the worst air quality in the world overnight.
• The Canadian capital of Ottawa, located near Quebec, has a 10+ warning, the highest on the air quality index, indicating a "very high risk." 

What's next?

• Experts are monitoring the situation, as Canada's forest fire season usually ramps up in July and August. Canadian officials say the country is preparing for the worst wildfire season on record.
• Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed gratitude for the assistance provided by the U.S., Mexico, South Africa, and France, who have sent firefighters to help combat the wildfires.

Are you worried about the rising frequency of forest fires?

—Emma Kansiz 

(Photo Credit: Twitter/New York University)