Tech & Science
Canadian Forest Fires: 890 Active Blazes, Detroit Ranks as World's Worst Air Quality
On July 17, 2026, more than 890 fires burned actively across Canada—including over 190 in Ontario—consuming nearly 3 million hectares. Smoke drifted into multiple U.S. states, from Minnesota to New York, triggering "dangerous" air quality alerts. That day, Detroit recorded the world's worst air quality according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality tracker. Four Republican lawmakers from Michigan wrote to Prime Minister Mark Carney, accusing Canada of "continued inaction." Ottawa and Ontario rejected the accusations, emphasizing their operational response.