Canadian Wildfires Trigger Air Quality Alerts Across Upper Midwest and Northeast U.S.

The skies over much of the Upper Midwest and Northeast U.S. turned a hazy orange on Monday as smoke from Canada’s raging wildfires drifted south, prompting air quality warnings for millions. With at least 738 wildfires currently burning in Canada, including 201 classified as out of control, the impact on American cities is intensifying.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, these fires are part of what has been a record-breaking wildfire season, with blazes stretching from British Columbia to Quebec. The resulting smoke has blanketed vast portions of the US and Canada, triggering air quality alerts in at least eight states, including Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Massachusetts.

Residents from Green Bay through Detroit, Chicago, New York City, and Boston woke up to hazy skies on Monday. In some cities, the sun appeared as a dim, red orb behind thick layers of smoke. Detroit and Chicago were even listed among the world’s 10 worst major cities for air quality as of Monday morning, according to real-time air monitoring services.

Images of a smoke-shrouded Statue of Liberty quickly went viral, symbolizing the far-reaching effects of the Canadian wildfires burning thousands of miles away. Health officials have urged residents in affected areas to limit outdoor activities, keep windows and doors closed, and use air purifiers where possible to mitigate health risks.

“These fine particulate matters can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, posing severe health risks to individuals with respiratory conditions, young children, and the elderly,” warned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a statement.

The Upper Midwest and Northeast are expected to remain under air quality advisories amid Canadian wildfires through at least Tuesday, with atmospheric models showing smoke continuing to funnel through the region. The slow-moving weather systems mean the dense smog could persist even longer in some areas.

Efforts to control the Canadian wildfires are ongoing, but officials acknowledge the sheer scale of the blazes makes containment extremely challenging. British Columbia’s Wesley Ridge wildfire near Cameron Lake continues to burn out of control, while new ignition points have been reported in Ontario and Quebec.

This summer has been one of the worst on record for Canada, both in terms of the number and intensity of wildfires. Experts cite prolonged drought, high temperatures, and the effects of climate change as significant contributors to the escalating crisis.

For US residents, the wildfire smoke serves as a stark reminder of how environmental disasters do not recognize borders. With the peak of the Canadian wildfire season still weeks away, air quality issues could remain a persistent concern for large swathes of North America.