Canadian Forest Fires: 890 Active Blazes, Detroit Ranks as World's Worst Air Quality

Herz — Tech & Science Desk · 17 July 2026 at 20:14 · 30s summary · 3 min read

Four Republican members of Congress from Michigan—John James, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman, and Lisa McClain—sent a joint letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, denouncing Canada's "continued inaction" in the face of forest fires whose smoke is blanketing the United States. On July 17, 2026, the Canadian federal government recorded more than 890 active fires across the country, most uncontrolled.

What We Know

More than 190 of these fires burn in Ontario, some uncontrolled. In total, nearly 3 million hectares of Canadian land have already been destroyed this season.

Smoke has spread across several U.S. states—from Minnesota and Michigan through Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York—triggering air quality alerts classified as "dangerous" and canceling numerous outdoor events. On July 16, thick smoke haze obscured views across New York City, blocking views of the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty.

U.S. Air Quality

These rankings are established by IQAir, an air quality tracker based in Switzerland. On July 17, Detroit topped the global air pollution rankings, ahead of Chicago, Washington DC, and New York.

Canada's Response

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press conference in Ontario, stating that climate change is everyone's responsibility, including that of the United States.

Climate change is everyone's responsibility—truly everyone's—including the United States.

— Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, press conference in Ontario

Ontario Premier Doug Ford detailed his province's response: over 150 firefighting teams and more than 80 water bombers and helicopters are currently deployed. Since 2018, his government has spent more than one billion dollars on forest fire management.