Canada wildfires trigger mass evacuations and US air quality warnings

As of July 18, 2026, Canada is managing over 890 active wildfires, with more than 200 burning out of control, particularly in the Ontario province. The Canadian military is conducting aerial evacuations for residents of remote communities, including a group of 600 in the Fort Hope area. Approximately 28 million acres of land have burned so far this year. Smoke from these fires has drifted south, impacting air quality across the northeastern United States and triggering health warnings. U.S. officials have issued air quality alerts, while former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Canada, claiming the fires result from poor forest management. Ontario has requested federal assistance to handle the crisis, and additional firefighting resources, including aircraft, have been deployed to the affected regions.