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Canadian wildfires spread as smoke prompts air quality alerts in 18 states

Officials said hazardous smoke from Canadian and Minnesota wildfires is affecting much of the state, with air quality alerts covering nearly all counties.

  • On Thursday, July 16, 2026, thick smoke from Canadian and Minnesota wildfires triggered widespread air quality alerts across the Upper Midwest, blanketing major cities in haze.
  • More than 800 wildfires are currently burning in Canada, while the United States manages 477, including six large fires in Minnesota that exploded on July 13, 2026.
  • Dr. Jared Darveaux of Emplify Health warns fine particulate matter causes respiratory distress, advising residents to wear KN-95 masks if prolonged outdoor work remains unavoidable.
  • Stagnant air conditions described by National Weather Service meteorologist Kelli Barendse are reducing visibility to three to five miles as smoke settles southward.
  • Forecasts suggest smoky conditions will likely persist through Friday and Saturday, as the smoke drifts across the Great Lakes and Northeast regions.
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Canadian sites continue to burn and smoke has reached some parts of the U.S. Even, several states have air quality alerts in place.

·Los Angeles, United States
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nhpr broke the news in Concord, United States on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
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