Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Affects U.S. Midwest Residents

Paige Fischer, an environmental sustainability expert from the University of Michigan, found herself on a family trip to Traverse City along Lake Michigan under skies tinged with smoke from Canadian wildfires. Despite her expertise, Fischer admitted, “Even though I study this, I haven’t completely caught up in terms of planning ahead to make sure there’s good filtration systems where I’m staying. But I definitely have masks with me.”

The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reported on Thursday that 201 wildfires are currently active across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, with half of them categorized as “out of control.” As Canada battles these fires, smoke has drifted into the U.S. Midwest, affecting states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

In a scenario reminiscent of California’s past wildfire seasons, tens of thousands of Canadians have been evacuated. Meanwhile, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s AirNow platform indicates air quality ranging from moderate to unhealthy, particularly in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Indiana.

According to Fischer, climate change is a driving factor. “Wildfires are happening more frequently. They’re getting bigger. They’re emitting more smoke,” she stated. “The climate models are projecting that we’re going to have more frequent, more severe wildfires.”

Lori Daniels, a wildfire science expert at the University of British Columbia, adds, “Smoke knows no political boundaries — and neither does fire.” She notes that current wind patterns are spreading smoke across the U.S.

Echoing previous years, the smoke from Canadian wildfires has once again blanketed parts of the U.S. Midwest. Daniels acknowledges, “We are again having a remarkable start to fire season here in Canada.” Like the U.S., Canada faces “mega fires that have huge consequences for our ecosystems and for our human communities.”

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John Smol, a biology professor at Queen’s University, explains that lightning, not human negligence, is often the cause of these fires. “To have a big forest fire … you need fuel, you need a spark, and you need fuel that’ll burn. If it’s hot, dry, and you didn’t have summer rains — and you get a lightning strike — that’s it,” he said.

Even for those not evacuated, the smoke poses health risks. The EPA warns that exposure can lead to respiratory issues, including persistent coughing and difficulty breathing.

Fischer notes that many may not realize the smoke’s Canadian origin, potentially leading to a lack of protective measures. “They have a hard time conceiving of wildfire smoke from Canada coming here. They might not take measures to protect their health,” she said.

Daniels reminds that American wildfires have also impacted Canadian air quality. In 2020, Vancouver’s worst air quality was due to California wildfires. She expressed empathy to those affected in the U.S.: “We’re sorry about the smoke,” she says.

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