Manitoba, Saskatchewan Face Worst Wildfire Season

Wildfires continue to ravage western Canada, with Manitoba experiencing its worst wildfire season in 30 years, reporting 165 active fires, over 1.55 million hectares burned, and widespread evacuations. Saskatchewan maintains mass evacuations amid 81 active wildfires, though recent rains have slightly improved containment efforts. Smoke from these fires has caused severe air quality issues across parts of the United States and Canada, notably in Western New York, Wisconsin, and Manitoba. In Wisconsin, air quality advisories have matched records for consecutive days, while Western New York faced criticism for delayed public warnings. Health concerns focus on elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), especially for vulnerable populations. The crisis is driven by climate-related factors, underscoring the growing health and environmental risks associated with increasingly severe wildfire seasons.