Widespread wildfires in Canada cause severe air quality issues in North America

More than 800 active wildfires in Canada have produced massive amounts of smoke, significantly degrading air quality across the region. The smoke has impacted Canadian cities like Toronto and moved into the northeastern United States, affecting Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and New York. Authorities have labeled air quality in these areas as hazardous, advising residents to stay indoors. Reports indicate that some fires have moved over 32 kilometers in a 24-hour period, with some crossing the international border between Minnesota and Canada. Near Armstrong in Northwestern Ontario, footage showed a train passing through active flames, though the engineers reportedly remained safe. Data from IQAir lists cities including Toronto, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Chicago among the most polluted metropolitan areas globally. The fires follow a 30 to 60-day period of intense wildfire activity across the province.