Wildfire smoke from Alberta and British Columbia reaches US

Widespread smoke from wildfires in Alberta, Canada has now reached parts of the US. There are currently 75 active wildfires in Alberta and 23 of them are currently considered out of control. The start of the wildfire season has been unusually active and rising temperatures are fuelling concerns of more fires starting. 

Smoke from the Alberta wildfires have now reached eastern Canada and the US-Canada border, as seen in images from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Much of Canada and parts of the US northeast and mid-Atlantic regions are covered in light to medium smoke. The smoke has even caused a bright orange sunset in Washington DC.

The Canadian military is deploying 300 members to assist in firefighting efforts and evacuations. Nearly 30,000 people have been forced out of their homes, and 28 schools remain closed. Alberta’s minister of emergency preparedness warned of an “above normal” hot and dry weekend, increasing the threat of more fires.