Wildfires that raged in six of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories have wreaked havoc across the country in the past six weeks, forcing mass evacuations and burning more than 3.3 million acres of land, more than the state of Maryland.
As the smoke now sweeps the east coast of the United States, affecting 75 million Americans, the terrible threat to Canada’s forests comes to the fore.
Some blame lax forest management, arguing that insufficient controlled logging is being done thanks to environmentalist campaigns.
In 2020, four scientists wrote an article published in Progress in Disaster Science saying Canada is not spending enough money on forest management.
“Canada’s wildland firefighting authorities are at a tipping point,” they wrote. “Prevention and suppression costs are increasing, but program budgets are not.”
In July 2021, the editorial board of Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper warned that more needs to be done to control fires and reduce the problem of runaway wildfires.
Smoke rises from the fire at the Donnie Creek Complex south of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, on June 3
Smoke rises as firefighters battle the wildfire at the Donnie Creek Complex south of Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada June 3, 2023
A swimmer in Cameron Lake ahead of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire near Port Alberni, British Columbia, on Tuesday
However, others say climate change is directly to blame due to the warming of the planet.
Canada had an extremely dry and snowless winter that is currently resulting in conditions described as unusual dry, moderate or severe drought in all ten provinces, according to the Canadian government’s drought tracker.
In June 2021, Canada experienced its hottest day ever when the town of Lytton, British Columbia reached 121 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the previous record of 113 degrees.
This made Death Valley, California, the hottest place in North America that day. And this year, the wildfire season started incredibly early.
More than 1,400 percent of the acres normal for this time of year have been burned — 8.7 million acres in 2023, an area the size of Vermont. In an average year, 6.2 million hectares are burned by wildfires.
Dry, hot weather also leads to more lightning. Half of Canada’s wildfires are started by lightning; the other half of people.
However, lightning fires are more destructive than man-made fires: they are responsible for more than 85 percent of the damage caused by wildfires.
Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, tweeted, “This wildfire season has already been devastating to communities across the country.”
“We are taking action to keep people safe, support those affected and ensure provinces and territories get the assistance they need.”
Large parts of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec as well as British Columbia are currently in flames.
Smog hung low over the George Washington Bridge in New York on Wednesday
A water bomber is sighted over Port Alberni, British Columbia, on Tuesday
A helicopter water bomber drops water on the Cameron Bluffs in British Columbia on Tuesday
Due to an exceptionally dry winter, all ten provinces of Canada are currently experiencing unusually dry conditions
On Wednesday, Joe Biden said the United States would send firefighters to help.
“We have deployed more than 600 U.S. firefighters, support personnel and equipment to help Canada respond to record wildfires – events that are intensifying due to the climate crisis,” he tweeted.
Donald Trump repeatedly blamed poor land management for the forest fires and saw no effect of climate change in this.
Forest fires are not caused by climate change, but occur naturally. But the changing climate, with drier conditions, is making for more kindling and exacerbating its effects.
Some scientists believe that rising global temperatures may affect the flow of the jet stream, making it weaker. This allows the air to stagnate and heat up longer.
Canada’s Natural Resources Agency believes that climate change could potentially double the area burned by the end of this century.
For Canada, this means a potential problem for the timber industry and the destruction of valuable ecosystems.
Canada’s government said on Monday the outlook for the remainder of 2023 was extremely worrying and the fires were likely to get worse.
“Current June forecasts suggest that above-average fire activity may continue to occur in most parts of the country during the 2023 wildfire season due to ongoing drought and long-term forecasts for warm temperatures,” they said.
“In June, warm and dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires in most of Canada, from British Columbia and the Yukon eastward to western Quebec and the Atlantic region.”
“In July, wildfire potential is expected to expand into the Yukon, although the eastern edge of western Quebec will recede into central Ontario.”
Dramatic time-lapse shows smoke from wildfires engulfing the New York skyline — while cities from Chicago to DC are shrouded in toxic clouds that have prompted MILLIONS to stay home
Incredible time-lapse video captures the moment New York City was engulfed in bright orange smog caused by 400 Canadian wildfires.
The footage shows a view of the World Trade Center in downtown Manhattan that slowly fades from view over the course of four hours.
The images initially show a gray and slightly opaque smoke over the city, which quickly turns into a bright orange haze from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
A cloud of smoke from the forest fires first descended over New York on Tuesday before becoming denser over the course of the afternoon.
This resulted in people in Manhattan being unable to see the New Jersey skyline across the Hudson River – prompting air quality warnings in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Virginia and the Carolinas.
NEW YORK
On the morning of June 7, the sky was covered with a dense gray mog that was quickly turning orange as tourists tried in vain to take in the sights of Rockefeller Center
The Statue of Liberty was also quickly swallowed up due to the dangerous smog and is barely visible
Big Apple residents have been advised to stay indoors as smoke blankets the city
The smoky yellow haze shrouded the city and is expected to continue for the coming days
An orange haze blanketed the entire city on Wednesday as health officials warned of pollution exposure
In the Big Apple, Mayor Eric Adams urged people to stay indoors during the smog as the FAA suspended flights from LaGuardia Airport and Newark Airport.
Adams urged vulnerable residents to be cautious during the crisis, as he also blamed climate change for the yellow skies.
“This may be the first time we’ve seen anything of this magnitude,” he said. “Let me be clear, it’s not the last time.”
Due to poor visibility, Manhattan residents could barely see the Statue of Liberty across the Hudson River
The city briefly topped the list of metropolitan areas with the worst air pollution in the world, overtaking the Indian capital Delhi
A man uses a phone while looking through the haze at the George Washington Bridge in Fort Lee, New Jersey on Wednesday, June 7, 2023
The acrid smoke covered buildings in the Bronx, New York
WASHINGTON, DC
Washington DC was blanketed in smog all Wednesday and is expected to continue for several more days
A glimpse of smoky skies can reportedly be seen as air quality has dropped to dangerous levels due to Canada’s wildfires
Deteriorating air quality in DC has been reported with a “code red” by the National Weather Service
Residents in Washington reported seeing a haze of gray shrouding the city on a blue sky day
Despite the heavy smoke and smog, the Abraham Lincoln memorial was as busy as ever
Residents in Washington reported seeing a haze of gray shrouding the city on a blue sky day.
In Washington, the smog will continue for a few more days and students in schools are being told to stay indoors all day.
A school administrator at Chevy Chase said, “Many staff and parents are concerned about the wildfires in Canada and the resulting poor air quality we are experiencing here.”
CHICAGO
Many are calling for the Yankees-White Sox game to be canceled due to the air quality warnings
The Chicago White Sox nevertheless traveled to the Bronx for a New York Yankees game, with many describing the scenes as post-apocalyptic
High ozone levels in Chicago combined with smoke from the wildfires prompted air quality warnings Monday, with smoke slowly clearing across the city by Wednesday.
The Chicago White Sox nevertheless traveled to the Bronx for a New York Yankees game, with many describing the scenes as post-apocalyptic.
PHILADELPHIA
The Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Philadelphia skyline are shrouded in haze
Bricklayers work despite the hazy conditions in Philadelphia caused by Canada’s 400 wildfires
Philadelphia is awash with smoke as major wildfires burn across Canada
A jogger checks her cell phone while the Philadelphia skyline is shrouded in thick smog
The smoke that blanketed Philadelphia is likely to persist due to persistent northerly winds, with the air quality alert showing “code red.”
Smoke from a fire in Bass River State Forest last week and another in Nova Scotia also created smog that has now blanketed the area along with the 400 wildfires.
On Tuesday night, local emergency services received calls from residents reporting the smell of smoke and others reporting shortness of breath.
DETROIT
But in the afternoon, air quality improved — Detroit had dropped to 13th in the world for worst air quality
As of Wednesday morning, Detroit had the second-worst air quality in the world before being overtaken by New York.
But in the afternoon, air quality improved — Detroit had dropped to 13th in the world for worst air quality.