Smoke from Canadian Wildfires Is Choking the US — Here’s What’s Happening (Explained Simply)

How It All Started for One Family

Erin Cotton didn’t realize anything was wrong at first. Her eyes started watering, and her two kids (ages 5 and 1) said they felt itchy.

That’s when she remembered how she felt during the Palisades Fire in California — one of the most destructive wildfires in that state’s history. She used to live there and now lives in Washington, DC.

A Huge Number of People Are Breathing Bad Air

Cotton is just one of more than 100 million people across the Midwest, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic who are breathing dangerous air.

Where is the smoke coming from?

• Wildfires in Canada
• Including about a dozen fires that recently flared up in Ontario

Summer Fun Gets Canceled

The smoke caused air quality alerts (a warning that the air is unsafe to breathe) in over a dozen states. Lots of outdoor events were canceled Friday because the smoke stuck around:

• A baby parade in Flint, Michigan
• A rock concert in Herndon, Virginia
• The America’s Mile marathon in Pittsburgh
• Amusement parks like Kennywood and Sandcastle Water Park in Pennsylvania closed too

Some big sports events were also called off or postponed:

• A Cleveland Guardians vs. Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game
• The RowFest National Championships in Michigan

Important: Air quality alerts mean the air is dangerous. Officials told people to stay inside and wear masks if they had to go out.

Will the World Cup Final Be OK?

A big question: Will the smoke mess up the World Cup final on Sunday afternoon in New York City?

The good news:

• The thickest smoke may clear out before the final

The bad news:

• Some thinner, lighter smoke could still drift in

Abigail Nguyen from DC had planned to watch the game on the National Mall with thousands of fans. Now she’ll just watch at home with roommates.

“I can’t really get the full effect and energy of the crowd, which is so sad,” she said.

How People’s Lives Are Disrupted

From Minnesota to Washington, DC, people told CNN the bad air changed their daily lives — health, fun, work, and family time.

Mike Warnke from Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources said:

“These folks’ livelihoods have been upended by these fires… summer businesses that rely on tourism have really been turned off for the moment.”

Some states told people to:

• Stay indoors
• Wear masks outside

For some, this felt like the COVID-19 pandemic from about six years ago. Others, like Cotton, were reminded of past disasters and were scared to go outside.

When Will the Air Get Better?

Parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast will have poor air until Saturday afternoon. Then a storm system (a rainy, windy weather event) should help clean the air.

Cities With the Worst Air

On Friday morning, these cities had some of the worst air in the country:

• Milwaukee
• Chicago
• Detroit

Bad air also reached southern Ohio and West Virginia.

Chicago’s mayor’s office said:

“Chicago is currently experiencing its worst air quality in recorded history. Please stay indoors, and if you must go outdoors, use a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask.”

Other help being given:

• Detroit is giving out free masks and says stay inside
• Philadelphia warned everyone may feel health effects
• DC gave masks to outdoor government workers; pools and parks closed
• Delaware expected better (but still unhealthy for sensitive groups) by Saturday

Even at Rehoboth Beach, vulnerable visitors came out. Dawne English, who has asthma (a breathing condition), said:

“You can’t even see the water out there. It’s crazy.”

More Stories From Real People

• Cotton’s drive in DC took twice as long because everyone drove instead of walking. Her daughter’s summer camp canceled outside play. Kids showed up in swimsuits but had meltdowns.
• Nguyen stopped her runs and dog walks because the haze stung her eyes.
• Coty Jen in Pennsylvania (formerly from California) keeps an air filter on and wears an N95 mask at her office. She said the smoke hurts her lungs and gives her headaches.

Some Businesses Fight Back

Not everyone closed:

• A theater group in Ely, Minnesota opened “Jesus Christ Superstar” to give community a break
• An indoor playground and bowling alley in Wisconsin got more visitors
• Miranda Besaw took her toddler to an indoor playground to “beat the smog”

Who Is Most at Risk?

Bad air hurts some people more:

• People with health problems
• Unhoused people (people without homes)
• Outdoor workers

In Pittsburgh, groups are giving masks to unhoused people and checking on them. In Ohio, Dr. Megan Conroy expects more asthma patients needing help.

Important: Unhoused people are in extra danger because of dehydration (losing water from sweating and not drinking enough).

The Weather Fix (and World Cup Update)

A quick rainstorm with south winds will push smoke north and bring fresher air by Saturday evening.

After that, north winds might bring a little smoke back Sunday afternoon — but much lighter.

For the World Cup in NYC:

1. Saturday storms may cause heavy rain and brief flooding but clear by Sunday morning
2. Sunday afternoon game (Argentina vs. Spain) should be around low 80s°F
3. Skies clear but maybe a little hazy
4. Air quality better than previous days

Summary

Canadian wildfires sent thick smoke into the US, hurting over 100 million people. Events canceled, businesses closed, and cities like Chicago hit record bad air. Officials said stay inside and mask up. A storm will clear most smoke by Saturday night, and the World Cup should be OK Sunday with lighter haze and nicer weather.

FAQ

1. Why is there smoke in the US?
Wildfires in Canada, especially Ontario, sent huge smoke plumes south into the US.

2. What should I do if there’s an air quality alert?
Stay indoors. If you must go out, wear a well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask.

3. Will the World Cup final be canceled because of smoke?
Probably not. The worst smoke should clear before Sunday, with only light haze possible.

4. Who is most affected by the smoke?
People with asthma or allergies, unhoused people, and outdoor workers are most at risk.

5. When will the air be safe again?
A storm should clear the heavy smoke by Saturday evening, with better air into Sunday.