Current:Home > ScamsAre the Canadian wildfires still burning? Here's a status update -EliteFunds
Are the Canadian wildfires still burning? Here's a status update
SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-08 06:09:19
The thick smoke and haze that turned the New York City skyline orange in early June and brought some of the worst air quality levels the country has seen in decades was spawned by a series of wildfires burning in Canada. The fires are still burning, with smoke going on to affect states such as South Dakota, Montana and Iowa as well as swaths of the Midwest and Northeast.
The fires, which began in early June and have affected Ontario and Quebec, have impacted Canadians and Americans alike. Canadian media reported that 14,000 people in Quebec were evacuated earlier in June. In Canada, the fires caused thick smoke that led to air quality warnings. In the Northeast, there was a similar effect: Cities like New York and Philadelphia were blanketed in a thick haze that eventually traveled south to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Later in June, the smoke heavily affected the Midwest, with air quality alerts in cities including Detroit, Minneapolis and Chicago.
As forecasts anticipated, the smoke in the U.S. has fluctuated, but the fires in Canada are still burning. Here's what to know about the ongoing wildfires.
Are the Canadian wildfires under control?
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, there are more than 880 active fires across the country. According to a map updated daily by the center, these fires are burning from coast to coast, with blazes heavily concentrated in Canada's eastern and western provinces, on both of the country's East and West Coasts.
Of those fires, 580 were labeled "out of control" as of July 16. Only 204 were marked as "under control," while another 99 were "being held." A fire being held means it is not moving but still not considered under control, and its status can fluctuate.
According to the center, there have been more than 4,100 fires this year, resulting in about 10 million hectares (about 38,610 square miles) of land being burned.
Why are the Canadian wildfires out of control?
As CBS News previously reported, harsh weather conditions in Canada are fueling the fires and making it harder for firefighters to combat the flames.
The country is currently at "national preparedness level 5," meaning Canada has committed all national resources to fight wildfires across the country. International firefighters are also flying in: Chris Stockdale, a wildland fire research officer with the Canadian Forest Officer, told CBS News that when smoke from earlier fires affected some central and western states, "international liaison officers" from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa would be flying in to help fight the fires.
President Joe Biden also said earlier in June that American firefighters would be heading north.
"We've deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters, support personnel, and equipment to support Canada as they respond to record wildfires – events that are intensifying because of the climate crisis," he said in a tweet.
When will the Canadian wildfires end?
This isn't likely to go away. The Canadian government recently issued an updated outlook for the country's wildfire season, which usually stretches from May through October. The most recent outlook, published earlier in July, said the wildfire season this year is "Canada's most severe on record" and warned that current predictions "indicate continued potential for higher-than-normal fire activity across most of the country throughout the 2023 wildland fire season. This is due to long-range forecasts for warm temperatures and ongoing drought, which are affecting parts of all provinces and territories and intensifying in some regions."
- In:
- Wildfire
- Fire
- Wildfire Smoke
- Wildfires
- Canada
Kerry Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current events, breaking news and substance use.
veryGood! (82197)
Related
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- Luke Burbank on taking spring ahead to the next level
- North Carolina, Kentucky headline winners and losers from men's basketball weekend
- Best dressed at the Oscars 2024: Lupita Nyong'o, America Ferrera, Zendaya, more dazzling fashion looks
- A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
- Who has the most Oscars of all time? Academy Awards records that made history
- How much is an Oscar statue worth? The resale value of Academy Awards statues is strictly regulated
- 10 AWD cars and SUVs for 2024 under $30,000
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Jimmy Kimmel and Molly McNearney on preparing for Oscar's big night
Ranking
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Sen. Katie Britt accused of misleading statement in State of the Union response
- Christopher Bell wins NASCAR race at Phoenix to give emotional lift to Joe Gibbs Racing
- Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful when they go without smartphones, Pew survey finds
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- North Carolina, Kentucky headline winners and losers from men's basketball weekend
- US probes complaints that automatic emergency braking comes on for no reason in 2 Honda models
- Oscars 2024: Jimmy Kimmel Just Wondered if Bradley Cooper Is Actually Dating His Mom Gloria
Recommendation
What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz
How John Cena Pulled Off Naked Look at 2024 Oscars
Alexis Bledel Makes Rare Red Carpet Appearance at Elton John AIDS Foundation's Oscars 2024 Party
Best dressed at the Oscars 2024: Lupita Nyong'o, America Ferrera, Zendaya, more dazzling fashion looks
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
See Emma Stone, Margot Robbie and More Stars' Fashion Transformations for Oscars 2024 After-Parties
Vanity Fair Oscars 2024 Party Red Carpet Fashion: See Every Look as Stars Arrive
Monica Sementilli says she did not help plan the murder of her L.A. beauty exec husband. Will a jury believe her?