Toronto Faces Severe Air Quality Due to Ontario Wildfires

On Wednesday, Toronto and surrounding areas experienced some of the worst air quality in the world as smoke from Ontario wildfires spread over the region and into parts of the northeastern United States.

In Ontario, striking visuals showed an orange sky and an obscured sun, with the air filled with the strong scent of wood smoke. Environment Canada issued a health warning about the risks of spending time outdoors due to the poor air quality, which is typically worse in other global cities such as Delhi and Dhaka at different times of year.

The wildfires led to evacuations from at least six communities, including the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, where residents left by boat. Sol Mamakwa, an Indigenous member of the provincial parliament, stated, “An entire First Nations community has been erased because of this disaster.”

In addition, three trains carrying flammable materials were moved to safer locations away from the threat of fire along their routes, as reported by the Ontario Provincial Police.

The weather had previously moderated the start of wildfire season across much of Canada, yet the fires in Ontario highlight ongoing risks. In response, municipalities enacted bans on open flames to prevent further incidents.

Currently, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center reports 838 active wildfires nationwide. Though this number is significant, this year’s 4.7 million scorched forest acres are only a fraction of the acreage burned during the more severe 2025 wildfire season, which saw 22.2 million acres destroyed.

The smoke haze, compounded by a heat dome in Ontario and the northeastern U.S., is predicted to persist and possibly worsen. This phenomenon keeps temperatures near 100 degrees Fahrenheit and holds smoke closer to the ground, exacerbating the air quality issues in these regions.

Vjosa Isai provides coverage of Canadian news for The Times from her base in Toronto.