Canadian wildfires force thousands to evacuate
Wildfires burning across Canada have forced thousands to evacuate and prompted emergency declarations, with smoke expected to drift into parts of the United States, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
In Saskatchewan, Premier Scott Moe declared a state of emergency on Thursday. As of Thursday morning, there were 17 active wildfires in the province, according to Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency President and Fire Commissioner Marlo Pritchard. “Three were contained, eight were not contained, and five were under assessment,” Pritchard said.
According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC), Manitoba had 15 active fires as of Thursday night. Across Canada, more than 170 wildfires were burning, with 93 considered “out of control” — meaning they are being monitored but not actively suppressed.
Winds are expected to carry the smoke south. By Friday, heavy smoke may reach Green Bay, Wisconsin, with smoke also spreading over Milwaukee, Chicago, and Detroit.
Earlier, it was reported that global wildfire emissions in the first months of 2025 were below the long-term average, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). CAMS has also started monitoring early fire activity in eastern Eurasia, the Arctic, and Canada, warning that the boreal summer could bring more widespread fires.