Canadian wildfire smoke chokes north-central Montana
Smoke from Canadian wildfires drifted down heavily into Montana on Wednesday and Thursday, covering a large swath of north-central Montana.
Air monitoring stations in Choteau, Cut Bank, Havre and Glasgow all had periods of 'Unhealthy' air over the last 48 hours, with air quality index moving over 200 on Wednesday morning in some towns.
As of 5 p.m. on Thursday, the AQI in many of those places had dropped down into the moderate category.
'Low pressure moving across the state on Thursday will result in reductions in surface smoke concentrations,' Montana DEQ said in a Facebook post. 'A series of storms will provide beneficial rainfall for the region into the weekend.'
When air gets smokey, it's best to be inside and avoid extreme outdoor physical exertion. Air filters can also help vulnerable populations.
Fire have been burning in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan since May. Some Canadian smoke has even drifted as far as Europe.
Over 7.8 million acres have burned in Canada this year, and there are over 200 active wildfires in Canada. The 25-year average for Canadian acreage burned from wildfires is 7.3 million acres.
Montana has had several small wildfires early this season. Forecasts call for an active fire season in the state.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
9 hours ago
- New York Post
Jordan Peterson ‘taking some time off everything' as daughter reveals mold exposure illness
Controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson is 'taking some time off of everything' due to a debilitating illness caused by mold exposure, his daughter has announced. Mikhaila Peterson, who co-hosts Peterson's YouTube call-in show 'Answer the Call' for conservative media outlet The Daily Wire, revealed in a post on X on Thursday that her father was suffering from chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), an acquired medical condition not generally recognised by mainstream medicine. Advertisement It's the latest health shock for the Canadian author and commentator, 62, who was checked into rehab for benzodiazepine addiction in 2019. 'Hey guys, @jordanbpeterson is taking some time off of everything,' Mikhaila said. 7 Mikhaila Peterson announced her father was suffering from CIRS. YouTube 'He was diagnosed with CIRS (chronic inflammatory response syndrome) due to a genetic predisposition that causes the immune system to have an inability to identify and detoxify mold/bacteria in indoor air (the genetic predisposition is not that rare, it's in about 25 percent of people but he has a severe version).' Advertisement Mikhaila said 'over the last year or so' her father had been 'feeling the impact of CIRS more and more'. 'Recently he was exposed to a particularly moldy environment while helping clean out my grandfather's house after he passed away which severely flared symptoms,' she wrote. 'To be crystal clear — this isn't about akathisia or medication. He's not on any medication. It's an immune system dysfunction.' Following the revelation of Peterson's drug addiction struggles, which caused shock among fans, he revealed he had developed akathisia — condition which can cause restlessness, mental distress and an inability to sit still — describing the symptoms as 'like being jabbed with something like a cattle prod, something electric, sharp, non-stop.' Advertisement 7 Jordan Peterson addresses students at The Cambridge Union on Nov. 2, 2018, in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. Getty Images 'CIRS is what has been behind his multiple health issues and random severe allergies and severe food sensitivities over the years,' Mikhaila wrote. 'He's really been suffering from this badly since 2017 we just didn't know what it was called. Only eating meat helped keep the symptoms under control but it hasn't been enough recently.' She said the condition was 'also the explanation behind recent cancelled shows, cancelled events, sporadic appearance of being rundown and general weepiness (caused by pain).' Advertisement Peterson, who joined The Daily Wire in 2022 after returning to public life, has been noticeably diminished and agitated in recent appearances — including a debate in May against 20 atheists for YouTube channel Jubilee. 7 It's the latest health shock for the Canadian author and commentator, 62, who was checked into rehab for benzodiazepine addiction in 2019. Jordan B Peterson / YouTube 'He's pausing the podcast at the moment, but we're hopeful for a somewhat speedy recovery, given we at least know what's going on, and there is treatment, and he's responding well, although it's pretty rough,' Mikhaila said. 'Praise GOD that we finally know what's been going on. The fact that doctors don't generally recognise that mould exposure in indoor air is causing chronic health issues is insane. The fact that this is the cause behind our food sensitivities and inability to tolerate anything other than meat (for eight years now), multiple disorders and diseases in my family, and is virtually unrecognised by the medical community, is absurd.' Peterson and his daughter have previously raised eyebrows for their promotion of the carnivore diet, dining exclusively on beef with salt and soda water. Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters 'Just like the medical system didn't recognize ketogenic diets as a treatment for mental disorders 10 years ago (and still most doctors don't),' Mikhaila said. 'Just like psych med withdrawal wasn't recognized five years ago (and still more doctors don't recognize it). This indoor air quality problem that causes Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome will be commonly diagnosed in the next five to 10 years. I am positive about that.' Advertisement Meanwhile, Peterson and Mikhaila's family-run online education venture, Peterson Academy, is facing criticism from former students who claim they were expelled from the 'free speech' university for speaking out. Peterson Academy, which launched last year with 16 courses divided into eight-hour lectures, initially charged students $499 a year. 7 Jordan Peterson (right) with his daughter, Mikhaila Peterson (2nd left), Tammy Peterson (2nd right), and Jordan Fuller (left). @MikhailaFuller/X Former student Frankie Joy Bailer claimed she was expelled for sharing a meme about price increases on the internal message board, drawing the ire of Mikhaila. Advertisement 'Being expelled from Peterson Academy for making memes was definitely not on my 2025 bingo card,' she said in a January interview on YouTube. Dusty May Taylor, another expelled student, shared a lengthy blog post about her experience, revealing Peterson was 'not active on the platform' that was largely run by Mikhaila as the chief executive. 'It is very ironic that Jordan Peterson is the man who consistently warns Canadians against vague laws being passed, which can be interpreted any which way and result in punitive action being taken against troublesome citizens,' she wrote. Peterson Academy is headquartered in Arizona's Paradise Valley, a mountain town east of the capital Phoenix. Advertisement 7 Peterson, who joined The Daily Wire in 2022 after returning to public life, has been noticeably diminished and agitated in recent appearances — including a debate in May against 20 atheists for YouTube channel Jubilee. Jordan B Peterson / YouTube Peterson and his family have reportedly purchased more than $50 million worth of Paradise Valley real estate in the past few years, including a $30 million estate previously owned by billionaire Alex Meruelo, the former owner of the Arizona Coyotes National Hockey League (NHL) team, according to local news outlet KTAR. Peterson started his career at Harvard University before returning to his native Canada to take up a position as a professor at the University of Toronto in 1998. He shot to global fame in late 2016 after posting a series of videos criticising a proposed Canadian law, Bill C-16 — which made it illegal to refuse to refer to a transgender person by their preferred 'gender pronoun'. Advertisement His videos quickly went viral, coming just months before the 2016 US election of Donald Trump at a time when the global culture wars were going into overdrive. 7 Peterson in Amsterdam, on Oct. 31, 2018. NurPhoto via Getty Images Peterson's YouTube lectures and appearances on popular podcasts like 'The Joe Rogan Experience' drew huge audiences. He released his global best-selling self-help book, '12 Rules for Life,' in 2018 and embarked on a global tour, including Australia. But the rock star psychologist's life spectacularly fell apart shortly after his Australia tour in February 2019. He all but disappeared from public life, with his lengthy absence sparking a flurry of speculation. In September 2019, Mikhaila posted a confronting YouTube update revealing her father had been checked into rehab in New York seeking to get off the anti-anxiety drug clonazepam, saying he had begun taking the addictive medication to deal with stress from his wife's battle with cancer. 7 Peterson on his Daily Wire show 'Answer the Call.' Jordan B Peterson / YouTube Things took an even darker turn in early 2020, when Peterson sought alternative treatment for benzodiazepine dependence in a Russian hospital after what Mikhaila claimed was repeated misdiagnosis in North American hospitals. While in Moscow, Peterson came down with pneumonia and was put into an induced coma for eight days. He returned to Canada in October 2020, telling YouTube viewers he hoped to 'return to something resembling a normal life.' Late last year, he announced that he had fled Canada for the US, claiming that impending hate speech legislation, bill C-63, threatened to turn the country into a 'totalitarian hellhole.' Speaking on his daughter's podcast, Peterson said an ongoing feud with the College of Psychologists of Ontario had also prompted the move. The professional body had threatened to pull his practising license if he did not complete a social media re-education training course. Peterson had challenged the order, but Canada's Supreme Court dismissed his appeal against the college's decision last August.
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Climate change 'sets the stage for more extreme fire behaviour,' says researcher
Grand Falls-Windsor fire Chief Vince MacKenzie says he's seen the world change in his 42-year career. MacKenzie's community is about 16 kilometres north of the nearest out-of-control wildfire in Martin Lake, which was burning at 2,160 hectares as of Thursday morning. "Fire season is starting earlier, lasting longer and much more intense. It's become a real issue over the last four or five years," MacKenzie told CBC Radio's The Signal. "Unfortunately, it's going to continue." The fire chief said increasingly hot and dry conditions are also increasing the fire risk, and the province's firefighters are seeing that risk grow every year. "Climate change is very real in the fire service, and the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs, of which I've been involved with over the years, we've been letting governments know that climate change is real." Warmer weather, worse fires MacKenzie said fires are starting to become synonymous with summer in Canada. That's an idea Kaitlyn Trudeau has been researching with Climate Central. The organization's data from its Climate Shift Index indicates that higher average temperatures are a direct result of climate change. Climate Central aims to find the link between weather events and human-caused climate change, a process commonly known as climate attribution. The research group developed its index using weather models and patterns to compare "two different worlds," said Trudeau. One world is the one we live in now, she said, and the other is one without greenhouse gases. From there, scientists and researchers calculated the probability of any temperature in any location. According to the Climate Shift Index, climate change made the fire conditions in most of Newfoundland at least five times more likely. "We're trying to make a tool that helps people just understand the role that we're playing in the changes that we're seeing to our weather," said Trudeau. "The risks that we're seeing, they're much more likely in a world with added greenhouse gases than they are in a world without." The researcher said the index also helps people better understand why wildfires seem to be so much worse this year. Newfoundland and Labrador has averaged fewer than 100 wildfires per season in the previous five years, but this year there have been 216 so far, according to the province's wildfire dashboard. "Climate change doesn't start fires, but what it does is it really exacerbates conditions. It really sets the stage for more extreme fire behaviour that just lets these fires burn out of control," Trudeau said. Getting prepared MacKenzie said there are actions people can take at home to prevent fires. "The public needs to start to become more aware around this," he said. MacKenzie recommended people keep their homes' eavestroughs clear. He said leaf litter and other natural debris can become very combustible, so lawn maintenance is also important. However, MacKenzie said the circumstances of this summer's wildfires are not normal. "At the end of the day, it's going to take the weather to stop these events, and a good drowning of rain," he said.
Business Upturn
18 hours ago
- Business Upturn
Liquid I.V. Debuts Innovative New Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier in Canada
TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Liquid I.V., the number one selling powdered hydration brand in Canada1 announced the expansion of their product portfolio with the launch of the new Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier. Available in the delicious and refreshing White Peach flavour, this launch marks Liquid I.V.'s most significant innovation in the market to date and is the brand's first sugar-free offering for Canadians. 'Sugar-free marks a bold step forward for Liquid I.V., cementing our place not only as leaders but innovators of hydration solutions,' said Anusha Babbar, Senior Vice President of International, Unilever Wellbeing. 'Canadians have shown great love to Liquid I.V. these past two years in market, so we're thrilled to be expanding our Canadian offering in the wellness category to meet their demands for a sugar-free option.' Liquid I.V. entered Canada in 2023, marking its first expansion beyond the U.S., and quickly established itself as a leading provider of powdered hydration. Yet, fans of the electrolyte beverage have been vocal about the need for a sugar-free option to meet their lifestyle needs. Today, Liquid I.V. responds to the demand with a first-of-its-kind formula that is scientifically formulated to restore electrolyte imbalances that occur through performance, heat, travel and adventure, without the sugar. 'Sugar is often used as a key ingredient in electrolyte beverages for hydration support. We clinically tested countless sugar-free formulations to ensure that we weren't just ticking a box, but creating a formula backed by science that truly supported functional hydration,' said Lori Lauersen, Senior Vice President R&D, Unilever Wellbeing. 'What we developed was an amino acid blend available in our Sugar-Free Hydration Multiplier, all delivered within a delightful peach flavoured beverage.' Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach Hydration Multiplier delivers smart 0 sugar hydration that supports consumers in maintaining their wellness goals. It contains: 0g sugar 6 essential vitamins and minerals Blend of amino acids No artificial flavours or colours 100% + daily value of essential B vitamins (B3, B5, B12) To enjoy, simply pour one easy-to-open packet into 500ml of water, mix or shake, and hydrate. Its convenient single-serve, travel-friendly packets are easy to enjoy on the go. Liquid I.V. Sugar-Free White Peach is currently available at Costco Canada and will be available on later this month. About Liquid I.V.® Liquid I.V.® is a wellness company based in Los Angeles, CA. We believe hydration is the bedrock of wellness so our products are designed to deliver hydration and additional benefits with delicious flavour. The product line features great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mixes for enhanced hydration. As a purpose-driven brand, giving back is at the core of Liquid I.V.'s DNA, to date we've donated over 71 million servings to people in need around the globe. Liquid I.V.® contributes over 1% of brand revenue to our Impact Program focused on Clean Water Access & Hydration Aid. Liquid I.V.® provides grants to organizations that expand clean water access. We are committed to our goal of donating 150 million Liquid I.V.® sticks over the next 10 years. Liquid I.V. is available in-store at Costco, Walmart, and other national retailers, and online on To learn more, visit and follow @liquidivcanada on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. For more information, please contact:Amanda FederchukKetchum, on behalf of Liquid I.V. [email protected] 416-505-0517
