Wildfire smoke from Canada is once again blanketing vast regions of North America, causing air quality alerts and health concerns as the 2025 fire season intensifies. As of early June, about 200 active wildfires are burning across the country, forcing over 25,000 residents to evacuate in three provinces These fires have already consumed nearly,000 square kilometers of land—making this the second-worst start to a fire season in recent years, surpassed only by 2023.
Air quality maps show the smoke drifting south into the United States, with Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin experiencing the most unhealthy air conditions this week. The Air Quality Index (AQI) rates these areas as “unhealthy,” especially for sensitive groups such as children, older adults, and those with heart or lung conditions Other states, including Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, are also seeing varying levels of smoke and haze, though not all are experiencing significant air quality impacts.
Satellite imagery and real-time smoke forecasts reveal that the smoke plume stretches more than,000 miles, even reaching as far as Europe The BlueSky Canada smoke forecast and other monitoring tools are tracking ground-level concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5), providing up-to-date maps for public health and safety.
Experts warn that the hot, dry weather fueling these fires is likely to persist, with forecasts calling for a warmer and drier than normal summer across much of Canada. This, combined with human-caused ignitions and climate change, is expected to keep wildfire risks high for the remainder of the season.
