Smoke Drifts North from US Wildfires
Officials in British Columbia reported that smoke from wildfires in Washington and Oregon has moved into southern Canada, prompting air quality warnings. The provincial wildfire service stated that much of the smoke originates from fires south of the US-Canada border, affecting regions including Kootenay Lake and Cranbrook.
Extent of Wildfires
Across the US Pacific Northwest, twenty-two large fires continue to burn, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center. In Canada, 843 active wildfires were reported as of Monday, with 181 classified as “out of control” and another 532 uncontrolled but not yet targeted for suppression.
Political Reactions
US President Donald Trump claimed in a social media post that the US had been “invaded” by smoke, threatening to add the cost of pollution to tariffs on Canada. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that addressing climate change is a shared responsibility. Ontario Premier Doug Ford urged cooperation rather than criticism, highlighting mutual aid between the US and Canada during past wildfire events.
Canada’s Preparedness Efforts
Eleanor Olszewski, Canada’s Minister of Emergency Preparedness, noted that the country has invested C$12 billion in fire prevention and forest sustainability over the past five years, stressing that wildfire challenges cross national borders and require collaborative solutions.
