Of the more than 200 wildfires incinerating Canadian forests — and sending smoke into the United States — more than half are burning “out of control,” and some are being monitored but allowed to burn, Canadian authorities said.
As fires intensify, so do concerns over air quality. But conditions on the ground mean that suppressing many of the fires swiftly is not realistic, authorities and researchers say.
Although Canadian authorities have mobilized a “full response” to most of the fires, which means firefighters are actively trying to suppress them, the majority are expected to continue growing, and some are being observed and analyzed without an immediate response, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) said.
Severe winds and smoke complicate suppression efforts, significantly impairing visibility, and remote areas with tall flames pose significant challenges for the deployment of firefighters, according to wildfire researchers in Canada.
Why are so many of Canada’s wildfires burning ‘out of control’? https://t.co/7xAetrrZ7i
— Carlos A. Moreno (@CarlosAMoreno) June 5, 2025