Ineffectual Rainfall Intensifies Canadian Wildfires, Predicting Increased Smoky Haze, Report Officials

Officials announced on Wednesday that Canadian wildfires are expected to spread worsening smoky air across Canada and its neighbor, the United States, as recent heavy rains have proven insufficient in the most fire-ridden areas of Quebec.

Smoke drifting from the wildfires has blanketed large parts of both Canada and the United States in a hazy pall, extending as far south as Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and also reaching parts of West Virginia.

Recognizing this as the worst wildfire season in Canada’s history, officials anticipate air quality issues to persist throughout the summer, contingent on the fires’ ongoing activity.

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Beginning on unusually dry ground and rapidly intensifying, the fires have strained firefighting resources nationwide, according to fire and environmental officials.

Steven Flisfeder, a meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, warned that smoke will spread across Quebec and Ontario in the coming days, leading to deteriorating air quality.

Flisfeder expressed concern for both Canadians and Americans, indicating that as long as fires and resultant smoke persist, air quality will remain an issue.

He emphasized the need for sufficient rainfall to aid firefighters in controlling the blazes, noting that areas with the most active fires have not received enough rain. The persistence of smoky, hazy skies is dependent on this much-needed precipitation.

On Wednesday, Detroit experienced some of the worst air quality in the U.S. as smoke from Canadian wildfires enveloped the Great Lakes region and unhealthy haze spread as far south as Missouri and Kentucky.

Simultaneously, NASA reported that smoke from wildfires in northern Quebec has even reached Europe. Satellite images from Monday showed smoke extending across the North Atlantic Ocean to the Iberian Peninsula, France, and other parts of western Europe.

Nationwide, 490 fires are actively burning, 255 of which are considered out of control. Quebec’s forest fire prevention agency reports 110 active fires.

Canada has already set a record for the area burned this year. Almost every province is dealing with fires. The Canadian government reports a record 30,000 square miles (80,000 square kilometers) of land burned, an area nearly as large as South Carolina.

Flisfeder termed this season as “unprecedented.”

Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, advises residents to incorporate air quality checks into their daily routine this summer.

In Toronto, Canada’s largest city, the hazy skies and pungent air were evident as child care centers and the school board suspended outdoor activities.

Close to 1,200 vulnerable individuals from Cree communities in northern Quebec are among the evacuees who have fled due to wildfires and smoke. Dr. François Prévost of the Cree health board reports a generally successful evacuation process but acknowledges unique health, logistical, and cultural challenges faced.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Canadian Wildfires

More about Canadian Wildfires

• Effects of Wildfires on Air Quality
• Current Wildfire Situation in Canada
• Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke
• NASA’s Monitoring of Wildfire Smoke
• Impact of Climate Change on Wildfires