Smoke from hundreds of wildfires in Canada has cast a thick orange haze over New York City and a dozen other US states, forcing millions of Americans indoors — and prompting President Donald Trump to threaten new tariffs on its northern neighbour. The escalating crisis, which scientists link to climate change driven by fossil fuels, has turned a natural disaster into a political flashpoint between two countries that have long cooperated on cross-border fires.
As of Saturday, there were about 955 fires actively burning across Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, the majority out of control. More than 190 of those blazes are in Ontario, some burning unchecked. The smoke has drifted south, blanketing cities and triggering air quality alerts across the northern US.
“Wildfires in Canada are choking US cities with smoke, sparking tariff threats and highlighting climate change”
Trump took to Truth Social to accuse Canada of “willful negligence” and “not properly maintaining” its forests and brush, threatening new levies. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded that both countries share equal responsibility to fight climate change, which experts say is worsening wildfire conditions. Canada’s emergency management minister noted the two countries remain in constant contact, citing a reciprocal fire-fighting agreement from 1982 and another assistance deal from the 2025 G7 summit. Canada has invested about C$12bn (£6.4bn) in forest sustainability and fire prevention, MP Eleanor Olszewski said.
Relations between the US and Canada have been tense over the past year, largely due to trade. Trump imposed tariffs on Canada last year — a country that had enjoyed decades of free trade with the US — and both sides have yet to reach a new trade deal. Some Republicans have used the fires to renew Trump’s call to make Canada the 51st US state, a remark that has offended many Canadians.
For UK readers, the crisis is a stark reminder that climate change knows no borders. Scientists say burning fossil fuels is driving the kind of extreme weather that triggers wildfires sweeping through parts of Europe and North America — including the Cairngorms in Scotland. The UK has experienced its own wildfire risks in recent years, and the health impacts of smoke drifting across continents could become more common.
Q: Why are Canadian wildfires creating so much smoke? The sheer scale of the blazes — nearly 3 million hectares of land destroyed in Canada — produces massive amounts of smoke that is carried by wind patterns across the border. Climate change, driven by burning fossil fuels, is making wildfires burn faster and stronger, according to scientists.
Q: What are the health risks from wildfire smoke? Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Authorities in affected US states have warned millions of people to stay indoors and wear masks if they must go outside.
Q: How does this affect US-Canada trade relations? Trump’s tariff threat adds to existing tensions after he imposed tariffs on Canada last year, ending decades of free trade. The two countries have not yet reached a new trade deal, and the wildfire dispute could further complicate negotiations.
What happens next is uncertain. Trump has said he will call Carney to demand an explanation, but Canada insists it is already taking action. The fires continue to burn, and the smoke will likely persist as long as blazes are active. The broader question — how both nations address the climate crisis driving these fires — remains unresolved.
