Some residents in northern Ontario have been forced to evacuate due to ongoing fires. One indigenous representative reported that her community had been “turned to ashes.”
Fires are also burning on British Columbia’s west coast, where more than 59 active fires were reported Friday in the province. The British Columbia Wildfire Service says 39 of these fires started in the past 24 hours and more than half (31) are out of control. This led firefighters to use more aggressive measures to control it.
A large cluster of fires affecting northwestern Ontario is responsible for sending thick plumes of smoke and poor air quality across the region and into the United States.
On Thursday, thick smoke obscured views across New York City, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. Likewise, national monuments across Washington, DC were obscured by fog.
Authorities have urged people to stay indoors due to the negative health effects of smoke inhalation, and in some areas have even distributed free masks.
This led to the cancellation of outdoor activities across the northern United States, from Chicago and Detroit to parts of Pennsylvania and New England. Summer camps were moved indoors, concerts were rescheduled and at least one beach along the popular lake was closed.
Poor air quality has also affected air travel in some areas, with flights delayed due to low visibility conditions at airports.
Bad weather also raised concerns ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium, an outdoor stadium in New Jersey where Trump is expected to attend.
White House officials, including White House World Cup Task Force Director Andrew Giuliani, are holding informal meetings with FIFA officials and wildfire monitoring officials, but no larger formal meetings have yet been planned.
Forecasters believe conditions will improve if rain falls in the region over the weekend before the two teams take to the pitch at 1500e (2000 BST).
In addition to dangerous smoke spreading across the country, wildfires in northern Ontario have forced dozens of people from local Indigenous communities to evacuate, with video showing some fleeing the remote area by boat.
Members of the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation in the northern part of the province said they were “distraught” as the fire swept through their community without warning.
Matthew Hoppe, incident commander for Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, told the BBC his community has been devastated by wildfires in northern Ontario.
Hoppe said local residents had to “self-evacuate” in small boats on Monday afternoon as the fire quickly approached, adding that although there were no deaths or direct injuries, the community was “completely calm.”
Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Chief Helen Paavola told local news outlet CityNews that the flyover showed her community had been “turned to ashes.”
Ford said a total of 10 communities have had to evacuate, with many now seeking refuge in southern Ontario cities.
“It is a miracle that no one lost their life,” the prime minister said.
With additional reporting by Katie Williams and Nardine Saad
