The Canadian Wildfires Are Out of Control

Not terrifying enough for you? How would you like to trade places with this guy?

Video shows forest fires burning around a freight train in rural Canada, with the crew fearing the flames could reach them as bright orange flames surrounded the stranded train outside Armstrong, Ontario, late Tuesday. “This could potentially overtake us here, this has gotten a… pic.twitter.com/Xq4MzWc6nZ

— CBS News (@CBSNews) July 15, 2026

There are literally hundreds of separate fires burning across Canada right now, more than 800 in all.

There are currently 838 wildfires burning across Canada. More than 100 are in northwestern Ontario, sending thick smoke to the Great Lakes and Northeast U.S. pic.twitter.com/nJS5QaJvqY

— Collin Gross (@CollinGrossWx) July 15, 2026

Here's more from the BBC:

More than 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, with air quality alerts now extending south into multiple US states...

The vast majority of wildfires are burning out of control.

The large cluster of fires affecting northwestern areas of Ontario are responsible for sending thick plumes of smoke and poor air quality across Thunder Bay and Toronto, with lower concentrations of smoke high in the atmosphere drifting over the Great Lakes and above New York with hazy skies and redder sunrise and sunsets likely...

Republican lawmakers in the state of Michigan have penned an open letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney asking for better management of the country's wildfires, expressing frustration for the third year in a row.

"A year has passed, the season has come around again, and nothing has changed except that our patience has run out," said the letter, signed by four House representatives from the US state.

There's really no hope that Canadian firefighters can get so many fires under control. In fact, the BBC reports they aren't even really set up to do that. Their job at this point is to attempt to keep the fires from destroying towns and cities as best they can.

#Canada #Wildfires 🔥

Nearly 840 active wildfires are burning across Canada, with the current crisis hitting Northern Ontario and British Columbia the hardest. A combination of extreme heat and dry weather has escalated the situation to a severe level, creating dense smoke… pic.twitter.com/gd7y9WVarh

— Purple Buttetfly (@PurpleButtetfly) July 15, 2026

In any case, the result has been a tremendous amount of smoke in the northern U.S.

Another wave of dense wildfire smoke is forecast to reach New York and New England on Thursday afternoon and evening before it surges into the Mid-Atlantic on Thursday night.

Thick, unhealthy smoke is expected in D.C. on Friday, with some reaching Virginia and North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/ZDqDEYAgQq

— Ben Noll (@BenNollWeather) July 16, 2026

Worst off right now appears to be Toledo, Ohio.

Here's what things look like right now in Toledo, Ohio, which has some of the worst air quality in the country because of wildfires in Canada.

Updates: https://t.co/B4lmnHtdP1 pic.twitter.com/Vqhwe3Nj8P

— Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs (@NickAtNews) July 16, 2026

The air quality index is significantly better in Delhi, India.

UPDATE: The air quality index in Toledo is among the worst in the entire world. WTOL 11 is live now on air, online and on WTOL 11+ with team coverage and everything you need to know to keep you and your family safe. https://t.co/aIQrwawwik pic.twitter.com/HzAPPwFGY5

— WTOL 11 (@WTOL11Toledo) July 16, 2026

Here's what it looks like flying into Minneapolis-Saint Paul airport.

Smoke from the northern Minnesota / Canadian wildfires landing at MSP airport. #mnwx @spann pic.twitter.com/yQu7dtArS8

— Brett LaBare (@1labare) July 16, 2026

In Boston the sky was orange yesterday. 

Dangerous smoke from wildfires in Canada blanketed Boston with thick, hazy air on Wednesday, turning the skies bright orange. https://t.co/fO9ZnN6DCC pic.twitter.com/KzyQBDQH3x

— ABC News (@ABC) July 16, 2026

And in Chicago:

WILDFIRE SMOKE has made its way to Chicago this morning.

The air condition is extremely poor, as seen in this shot near Grant Park. You can see how much smoke has made its way down from the Canadian wildfires.

It's going to be a tough day when it comes to doing anything… pic.twitter.com/vXByYP8QI8

— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) July 16, 2026

This is apparently the worst the air quality has ever been in Chicago.

Chicago’s AQI now over 700 due to the Canadian wildfire smoke, the worst it’s even been in recorded history pic.twitter.com/lqI61YOG0V

— Mikayla Rose Price (@mikrosepri) July 16, 2026

So how long will this go one? The smoke is expected to linger for a few days and clear up in some parts of the U.S. over the weekend. But the Canadian wildfire season continues through August, so no real reason to think these fires will be out anytime soon.