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Air quality alerts issued in Canada and US as wildfires continue to burn

July 15, 2025

Air quality alerts have been issued across Canada and northern United States due to widespread wildfire smoke, with Environment Canada and U.S. officials warning residents to limit outdoor activities. The situation has become particularly severe in Toronto, where air quality ranked among the worst globally, while Chicago faces alerts through Tuesday evening. Prime Minister Mark Carney plans to meet with emergency responders in Ottawa as fires in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and northern Ontario have forced thousands from their homes.

Who is affected

  • Residents across Canada and the northern United States
  • People in Toronto and Chicago specifically
  • Thousands of evacuees from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and northern Ontario
  • Vulnerable populations including the elderly, pregnant women, infants, young children, and people with existing health conditions
  • Property owners near Chance Harbour in Newfoundland who lost cabins to fire
  • Approximately 30,000 people evacuated in Saskatchewan and Manitoba

What action is being taken

  • Environment Canada is issuing air quality alerts for much of Ontario
  • U.S. officials are implementing air quality alerts for Chicago through Tuesday evening
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney is meeting with emergency responders to assess the situation
  • Local administrations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared a state of emergency
  • Officials are advising residents to limit time outdoors and consider reducing outdoor activities

Why it matters

  • The wildfire smoke has significantly degraded air quality, creating health risks
  • Thousands of people have been forced to evacuate their homes
  • The fires have destroyed property, including cabins near Chance Harbour
  • The situation has created political tensions between U.S. lawmakers and Canadian officials
  • Scientists link these intensifying wildfire seasons to climate change, with Canada warming at twice the global average rate and Arctic regions heating at nearly triple the global pace

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC