Hundreds of wildfires, based mainly in Quebec, continued to pose a threat to communities. Wednesday and sent harmful smoke across Eastern parts of the continent. Skies were clouded over in many cities in Ontario, Quebec and the US eastern seaboard. Source: The Globe and Mail
Canada could exceed the largest total amount of burned area recorded in this country in a single year if the current rate of wildfire activity continues, according to Natural Resources Canada.
The department released updated data and forecasts Monday showing that, as of 4 June, there had been 2,214 wildfires across Canada this year, and about 3.3 million hectares burned. The 10-yearaverage over the same timeframe is 1,624 fires and 254,429 hectares burned.
Ontario:
There are 54 active fires across the province.
Quebec:
About 520 firefighters are battling more than 150 wildfires, while 11,400 people have been evacuated so far and officials said this season is already the worst the province has seen.
Elsewhere in Canada:
Authorities are reacting to active fires in other provinces, including Vancouver Island in British Columbia and the large Shelburne County fire in Nova Scotia, where rain is helping limit spread of the fire.
Environment Canada has issued special air quality advisories for large swaths of Ontario and Quebec, while Washington, DC, New York and Detroit registered among the world’s worst cities for air quality as wildfire smoke from Canada wafted south.
