On Wednesday, Toronto awoke to an orange-tinted sky as smoke from Ontario wildfires spread into New York City and beyond. Canada’s largest city experienced the worst air quality globally at times, as tracked on this date. Environment Canada issued warnings about potential health risks linked to outdoor exposure.
Ontario’s wildfires have caused evacuations in multiple regions, impacting rural and First Nations communities near Thunder Bay, Ontario, close to the Minnesota border. Namaygoosisagagun First Nation residents, around 40 people, were forced to evacuate their homes by boat due to this crisis. Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous provincial parliament member, stated that this disaster has effectively erased Collins First Nation.
Due to the situation, municipalities enforced bans on open flames as a safety measure amid a heatwave on Tuesday. This step aims to mitigate risks as temperatures soared to oppressive levels.
While parts of Canada experienced rain and cooler temperatures, which helped delay the onset of wildfire season, dry conditions allowed fires to spread. Currently, 838 wildfires are active in Canada, with a total of 4.7 million forest acres burned this year. This figure contrasts sharply with the 22.2 million acres lost in 2025, marking that year as the second most destructive in Canada’s history after 2023.
The presence of a heat dome, which has intensified temperatures in Ontario and the U.S. northeast to nearly 100 degrees Fahrenheit, also exacerbates the impact. This phenomenon traps smoke from distant wildfires close to the ground, potentially worsening air quality further.
Reporter Vjosa Isai covers Canadian news for The Times from Toronto.