Hundreds of wildfires continue to burn across Canada, sending thick smoke into parts of the United States and prompting widespread air quality warnings in both countries.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, 857 wildfires are currently active nationwide, including 23 new fires reported on Thursday. Most of the ongoing fires remain out of control, increasing concerns about their impact on public health and the environment.
Smoke from major wildfire clusters in western Ontario has spread across several Canadian cities, including Thunder Bay and Toronto, while also drifting south into the United States. Authorities have issued air quality alerts across parts of the Upper Midwest, the Great Lakes region and the Northeast.
In the US, hazardous air quality has been reported in areas of Michigan, Minnesota and Minneapolis. Health officials are advising residents, especially children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions, to remain indoors and limit outdoor activities.
Meteorologists say northwesterly winds are continuing to carry wildfire smoke into northern US states and are expected to do so through the weekend. Forecasters are also monitoring conditions ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, where smoke could affect air quality if weather patterns remain unchanged.
A shift in wind direction expected early next week could help improve air conditions across much of the northeastern United States by pushing the smoke toward Quebec.
Data from air quality monitoring service IQAir showed that Detroit recorded the world’s worst air quality on Thursday, followed by Minneapolis and Toronto.
Meanwhile, dramatic scenes unfolded in Ontario when a freight train became surrounded by advancing wildfire flames. Emergency rescue teams safely evacuated railway workers who had become stranded near Armstrong.
Canadian National Rail confirmed that all affected employees were rescued without injury and announced that rail operations in the area have been temporarily suspended while conditions remain unsafe.
Officials continue to monitor the wildfire situation closely, warning that changing weather conditions and limited rainfall could allow many of the fires to continue spreading in the coming days.
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