Massive wildfires in Canada are forcing thousands of evacuations and compromising air quality for millions of Americans across several northern states. The fires, which have ravaged the central province of Manitoba, have prompted 17,000 people to flee, with Premier Wab Kinew describing it as the largest evacuation in recent history.
The Canadian government has declared a state of emergency due to the intensifying wildfires, which will last for 30 days and can be extended if needed. The smoke from the fires is currently affecting states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, where air quality alerts have been issued for residents.
Recent studies have shown that exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to long-term health risks, including an increased risk of cardiorespiratory problems like hypertension or heart attack. This week, a study published in the journal Epidemiology found that these effects can persist for months after exposure.
Canada has experienced its worst wildfires on record over the past two years, with devastating blazes affecting all 13 provinces. The current outbreak is not isolated to Canada, as wildfire smoke is also pouring into the US, impacting air quality and health hundreds of miles from the fires themselves.
Climate change has made larger wildfires more likely and intense, contributing to the recent devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, which killed at least 29 people and destroyed over 12,000 homes and buildings earlier this year.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/30/nx-s1-5417913/canadian-wildfires-emergency-smoke-us