Photo: BENJAMIN HANSON / AFP / Getty Images
Millions of people across the Upper Midwest and Northeast are under air quality alerts as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts over the region. Smoke from over 700 active wildfires in Canada is creating hazy skies across the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Southwest. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reports that Saskatchewan and Manitoba are experiencing the most severe outbreaks, with 53 and 47 major fires, respectively.
States affected include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Delaware, and Maine, according to the National Weather Service.
In California, over 1,000 firefighters are battling the Gifford Fire, which has burned over 72,000 acres in the Los Padres National Forest in Solvang. The fire, which began on Friday (August 1), has prompted evacuation orders in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. As of Monday (August 4), the fire is only 3% contained, with 460 structures threatened and three injuries reported, including a civilian hospitalized for burn injuries and two contractor employees injured in a vehicle rollover incident.
Cal Fire reports that the fire's rapid growth is due to its alignment with topographical features, especially in grass-dominated areas. Highway 166 has been closed due to flames on both sides.
Meanwhile, smoke from the Gifford Fire has spread eastward, affecting air quality as far as Las Vegas, which ranks 186 on the U.S. Air Quality Index, indicating unhealthy conditions. The National Weather Service warns of elevated fire risks in Southern California due to strong winds and record-breaking heat.
Health officials recommend limiting outdoor activities, especially for vulnerable groups, and using air filtration indoors. The smoke is expected to linger through the week, with forecasts suggesting potential relief from storms in the Canadian Prairies.