Detroit’s Air Quality Plunges as Canadian Wildfire Smoke Engulfs Great Lakes Region

On Wednesday, the Detroit area awoke to one of the most severe air quality issues in the United States as smoke from wildfires in Canada settled over the Great Lakes region, spreading unhealthy haze as far south as Missouri and Kentucky.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow.gov website, Detroit’s air quality was categorized as “hazardous,” and the public was advised to stay indoors and minimize physical activity.

The smoke from the wildfires has cast a thick haze across extensive areas of the country, reaching southern Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, and extending into parts of West Virginia. AirNow.gov reported that on Wednesday, cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh experienced “very unhealthy” air quality. St. Louis, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky were also affected by the unhealthy air.

In addition to this news, here are some other noteworthy updates:

1. Over 1,000 individuals were instructed to evacuate as a brushfire threatened homes in Scottsdale, Arizona.
2. Officials stated that rainfall in Quebec is unlikely to be sufficient in extinguishing the wildfires that are causing the smoky conditions in the United States.
3. Cities like Chicago and Detroit are currently enduring the worst air quality in the United States due to the Canadian wildfires.
4. Minnesota issued its 23rd air quality alert for the year, with smoky skies obscuring the skylines of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
5. Several states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and cities like Louisville, have issued air quality alerts and advised residents to limit outdoor activities.

The National Weather Service meteorologist Byran Jackson mentioned that another round of smoke is expected to move through western New York and western Pennsylvania later in the day and persist over the northern Mid-Atlantic until Thursday.

Jackson added, “There’s particularly poor air quality… over southern Wisconsin, Illinois, central Indiana, and also another area over southeast Michigan, Detroit, and northeast Ohio around Cleveland. This is particularly thick smoke.”

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported that there are currently 490 active fires burning across Canada, with 255 of them categorized as out of control. Since the beginning of the year, a record-breaking 76,129 square kilometers (29,393 square miles) of land, including forests, have burned in Canada. This surpasses the previous record set in 1989.

While some wet weather in Quebec has helped firefighters gain some control over certain areas, the wildfires have not been fully extinguished due to insufficient rainfall. The majority of the fires are located in Quebec and Ontario, closer to heavily populated regions in North America compared to the western wilderness areas.

Earlier this month, massive fires in Canadian forests resulted in smoke blanketing the northeastern United States and the Great Lakes region, causing the air to turn yellowish-gray and prompting warnings for people to remain indoors and keep windows closed.

Health officials emphasize that the fine particles present in wildfire smoke can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as impact the heart and lungs, making breathing more difficult. They recommend limiting outdoor activities to minimize exposure to these particles.

President Joe Biden, during his visit to Chicago on Wednesday, could witness the impact of the wildfires firsthand. He is expected to address the economy and promote his renewable energy policies while acknowledging the Canadian wildfires as evidence of climate change.

Joel Thornton, a professor and chair of the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington, states that the warming planet will lead to hotter and longer heatwaves, resulting in larger and more intense wildfires.

Priti Marwah, a resident of Chicago, expressed concerns about the hazardous air quality, particularly for her daily run along the city’s lakefront. She remarked, “You can smell it bad… I run a hundred miles a week, so this is going to be dangerous today. You can feel it… even parking right there and coming out, I can feel it in my lungs.”

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency predicts that cleaner air from the west will arrive across the Great Lakes region by early Thursday, providing some relief.

However, for individuals like Dan Daley in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, the impending respite offers little solace. Daley described the situation as miserable, as spending time outdoors has been significantly limited due to the poor air quality.

Contributors to this report include Trisha Ahmed and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis, Ken Kusmer in Indianapolis, Rebecca Reynolds in Louisville, and Julie Walker in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about wildfires

More about wildfires

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – AirNow: The official website of the Environmental Protection Agency provides real-time air quality information for various locations, including Detroit and other affected areas.
• Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre: The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre provides updates and information on wildfires burning across Canada.
• National Weather Service: The National Weather Service offers weather forecasts and updates, including information on smoke and air quality conditions.
• Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on the health effects of wildfire smoke and recommendations for staying safe.
• Climate Change and Wildfires: The EPA’s page on climate change and wildfires explains the connection between climate change and the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires.