Wildfires have returned to Canada, with smoke forcing thousands of people from their homes and raising the alarm about poor air quality in the United States.
The fire started Friday in northeastern British Columbia and nearly doubled in size by the start of the weekend, burning just a few miles from the Fort Nelson city limits. By Sunday, the fire had consumed more than 13,500 acres.
Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson Indian Reservation have a combined population of about 3,000 people, most of whom have been evacuated according to the township’s mayor, Rob Frayer.
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows smoke beginning to move toward the U.S., with light to medium coverage in Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota.
These developments have raised concerns about a possible repeat of Canada’s 2023 wildfire season, which was the most destructive in the country’s history.
A massive wildfire in British Columbia has burned 4,200 acres in the Canadian province and forced nearly 3,000 people from their homes.
While the smoke appeared to be at its worst in June 2023 (pictured), it returned a month later, prompting an air quality warning.
Authorities issued an evacuation notice for several communities in Alberta on Saturday as the fire grew (pictured).
More than 6,500 fires burned nearly 71,000 square miles of land from the West Coast to the Atlantic provinces, and a blanket of smog blanketed New York City over a three-day period last June, turning the iconic skyline orange.
Scenes of chaos unfolded in Fort Nelson, where the community’s only hospital closed.
The Northern Rocky Mountain Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nation warned those who decided to stay that emergency medical services would not be available, nor would “groceries or other services.”
In the neighboring province of Alberta, authorities posted an alert about a wildfire 15.5 miles southwest of the city of Fort McMurray.
The alert was upgraded to an evacuation notice on Saturday, as residents of Saprea Creek Estates were also placed on alert by Wood Buffalo Township.
Strong winds pushed smoke across the province on Saturday, putting the city of Edmonton under an air quality advisory with danger levels rated at more than 10, or “very high risk.”
Alberta Wildlife said windy conditions challenged efforts to fight the fire, despite deploying five wildland fire crews, nine helicopters and air tankers.
Forecasters are not predicting any rain and are urging people to stay home for the next few days. While conditions are expected to begin improving Sunday night, they are likely to remain poor through the start of the week.
New York City was bathed in an eerie orange glow as smoke rose over the border last summer.
The smoke has raised concerns about poor air quality, with residents fearing a repeat of Canada’s 2023 wildfire season, which covered New York City in smog for three days.
Conditions were worst over a three-day period in June, with air quality levels classified as “hazardous” according to AirNow.gov.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for several counties on June 6, 2023.
New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond counties were ultimately placed under an air quality health advisory.
The air quality in the Big Apple was among the worst in the world
In addition to reduced visibility on roads, those with pre-existing conditions are at risk of health effects from wildfire smoke.
Canadian officials warned Sunday that people with lung disease, asthma and heart disease are among those most at risk, as well as pregnant women, older adults, children and those who work outdoors.
Those who must spend time outdoors are recommended to wear a mask to reduce exposure to smoke particles.
Last month, the federal government warned that Canada faces another “catastrophic” wildfire season due to above-average spring and summer temperatures and El Niño weather conditions.
Last summer, smoke was blown toward New York City, casting the city in an eerie orange glow.
The air quality in the Big Apple became one of the worst in the world. The index gradually moved from “unhealthy” to “hazardous” on AirNow.gov, a monitoring platform created by the US government.
On June 6, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties.
And it seemed like there was no end in sight. Smoke returned to the area next, and on July 17, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that an air quality advisory had been issued.
“The current air quality index is 120, which means it is unhealthy for sensitive groups,” Adams wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
As of Sunday, several Alberta cities, including Edmonton, were under an air quality advisory with danger levels rated at more than 10, or “very high risk.”
Alberta Wildlife said windy conditions challenged efforts to fight the fire, despite deploying five wildland fire crews, nine helicopters and air tankers.
Forecasters predict no rain and urge people to stay home due to poor air quality
Last month, the federal government warned that Canada faces another “catastrophic” wildfire season.
Higher than normal temperatures and widespread drought conditions may cause the wildfire season to begin before May and end after October.
How this year’s wildfires will affect the United States remains to be seen.
However, as more than 80 active fires spewed smoke into the Midwest on Sunday, Minnesota was placed under a statewide air quality alert, the first of 2024.
The alert will be in effect until 8 a.m. Monday in northern Minnesota and until noon in the south of the state.
As of 10 a.m., an air quality index of 174 was reported in Beltrami County and 157 in Clay County, both “unhealthy” levels according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Air quality is expected to reach the red level of the MCPA scale, which denotes conditions that are unhealthy for all groups, even those without pre-existing conditions.
The agency has urged people to limit time outdoors.
Wildfire season in Canada typically runs from May to October, but rising temperatures and widespread drought conditions can exacerbate this risk.
“With heat and dryness across the country, we can expect the wildfire season to start earlier and end later, and potentially be more explosive,” Canada’s Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said at a conference. of press.
Last year, the country witnessed a record number of wildfires that forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in British Columbia.
Nineteen counties in 11 states had multiple days with “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” air quality.
