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Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Climate
- Sunday World
Canadian wildfires smoke reaches Ireland after crossing Atlantic
Forecasts show further smoke is set to reach Europe later this week. Other plumes of smoke have also gone as far as the Arctic. Smoke rises from wildfires in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Photo: Government of Manitoba/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images Smoke from wildfires in Canada has crossed the Atlantic to reach Ireland, according to European Union researchers. Analysis from the EU's Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring System (CAMS) has shown smoke originating from wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario has made its way across the Atlantic and reached Europe in recent days. Forecasts show further smoke is set to reach Europe later this week. Smoke initially made its way across the Mediterranean on May 18 and 19, and there were reports of smoke in Greece and the region around the eastern Mediterranean. Smoke rises from wildfires in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Canada. Photo: Government of Manitoba/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images News in 90 Seconds - 3rd June 2025 A second, larger plume of smoke crossed the Atlantic in the last week of May and arrived in parts of northwestern Europe, including Ireland, on Sunday, June 1. Additional plumes of smoke are expected to reach Europe in the coming days. 'Wildfires are a frequent occurrence in boreal forests from spring and through the summer months,' CAMS senior scientist, Mark Parrington, said. 'Up to the beginning of June, our data is showing that central regions of Canada have experienced a very intense few weeks in terms of wildfire emissions. 'This data, and the fact that we are able to observe the smoke in Europe, is a reflection of the scale of the fires and impacts they have been having in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. 'In CAMS we monitor events such as these in order to understand how they affect the atmosphere and air quality regionally and globally.' CAMS forecasts show the transport of smoke is not expected to have 'a significant impact on surface air quality' as the smoke is moving at a high altitude. Typically, the effects include hazy skies and red or orange sunsets. Air quality in Canada has been affected by smoke emitting from wildfires across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario and there was a 'significant increase' in both the number and intensity of the wildfires in Canada last month. More than 25,000 people in the impacted areas of Canada have evacuated their homes due to the wildfires, while US states along the border with Canada have also been affected. A state of emergency has been declared in both Saskatchewan and Manitoba for the next month. There are also wildfires burning in parts of far eastern Russia since the beginning of April, most notably in the Republic of Buryatia and Zabaykalsky Krai near the borders with China and Mongolia. CAMS said carbon emissions in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District are at the highest level for this period of time since 2018. The wildfires in Russia have also impacted some areas further afield, with forecasts showing a transport of smoke from Russia towards northeastern China and northern Japan, impacting air quality in those regions. Other plumes of smoke have also gone as far as the Arctic.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Climate
- New York Post
Canada wildfires cover eastern US in orange haze, raising air quality concerns
A series of wildfires burning across central Canada sent smoke billowing into the U.S. over the weekend, with few signs that the blazes will subside anytime soon. The largest fires are burning in Manitoba, but due to prevailing wind patterns, plumes of smoke drifted southward, reaching as far as the Gulf Coast. Advertisement Satellites captured stunning imagery as smoke appeared to embed itself around a storm system moving through the East. According to air quality readings across the Lower 48, the smoke was most hazardous across the Plains and the Upper Midwest, with moderate levels reaching as far south as Georgia and the Carolinas. Communities south of the U.S.-Canada border reported air quality index (AQI) readings between 200 and 400 – levels which are considered to be unhealthy to even hazardous. A value between 0 and 50 on the AQI scale is considered 'good,' while anything over 301 reaches dangerous levels. Advertisement 5 A handout photo made available by the Government of Manitoba shows a large wildfire spreading northwest of the town of The Pas in Manitoba, Canada, on Thursday. GOVERNMENT OF MANITOBA/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 5 A value between 0 and 50 on the Air Quality Index scale is considered 'good,' while anything over 301 reaches dangerous levels. Fox Weather Air quality alerts were issued for millions across the Upper Midwest, including the entire state of Minnesota, with authorities warning of additional waves of smoke for the foreseeable future. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised individuals with lung disease, asthma, heart conditions and other health concerns to limit their time outdoors. Advertisement Officials also urged residents to ensure windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent smoke from infiltrating homes. 5 Air quality alerts were issued across the Upper Midwest, including the entire state of Minnesota. Fox Weather Despite the high AQI readings and satellite imagery, most of the smoke remained elevated in the atmosphere, limiting ground-level impacts, at least for now. Across much of the country, the smoke primarily contributed to orange-tinted skies and reduced visibility for pilots. Advertisement The scenes were a stark contrast to 2023, when smoke from Canadian wildfires settled over major cities along the Eastern Seaboard, pushing AQI readings into dangerous territory. 5 This photo provided by the Manitoba RCMP shows wildfires in northern Manitoba as they assist with the evacuation of several communities. AP That year, fires burned a record 45 million acres – a stark contrast to the less than 2 million acres consumed so far in 2025. A contingent of more than 150 U.S. firefighters has begun arriving in Canada, with additional resources expected to be deployed in the coming weeks. 'We are here to help our neighbors during their time of need, and our Forest Service Wildland Firefighters are the best in the business. I am thankful for the men and women who are bravely stepping up to serve. We pray for their success as they fight fires and save lives,' U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement. 5 The smoke contributed to orange-tinted skies and reduced visibility for pilots. AP U.S. officials noted that while fire activity in Canada is roughly 40% above average, fire conditions in the U.S. remain near average. Advertisement According to the latest North American Drought Monitor, only 7% of Canada is currently experiencing drought conditions, which is down significantly from around 40% during the same period in 2024. Canadian authorities do not expect drought conditions to worsen significantly in the short term, as a series of weak storm systems are forecast to bring scattered rain showers over the next week. However, any system capable of producing thunderstorms brings an additional threat – lightning, which can spark new fires that can kindle for days before spreading.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Climate
- Winnipeg Free Press
Terrifying inferno threatens everything in its path including, hopefully, any remaining climate-change doubts
Opinion If want to see what climate change looks like in real time, look no further than the smouldering forests of northern Manitoba. If you want to understand how fast a threat can turn into a crisis, ask the residents of northern communities who have been forced to flee their homes. And if you want to know what the future holds if we continue down this path — it's in the smoke-choked skies, the charred earth and the mass evacuation orders issued across our province this week. Wildfires threatening Flin Flon on Tuesday. (Supplied / Government of Manitoba) For the first time in its history, the entire city of Flin Flon has been ordered to evacuate, owing to an aggressive wildfire that tore across the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border, advancing with such force that there was no time to delay. First Nations communities — Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb — are also under mandatory evacuation orders. The flames don't care about borders or jurisdictions. They are consuming whatever lies in their path. Premier Wab Kinew put it bluntly and truthfully Wednesday. 'This is the largest evacuation in many Manitobans' living memory and this will require significant resources and co-operation from all levels of government,' he said after declaring a provincewide state of emergency. The scale of this crisis is staggering. Thousands of people — children, elders, families — are scrambling to pack up what they can carry, leave their homes behind and pray there's something to return to. These aren't just fires, they are forced displacements. They are trauma. This fire season didn't come out of nowhere. Manitoba (and the rest of the world) has been warming steadily for years. Winters don't freeze the way they used to and summers continue to set new heat records. The boreal forest that once acted as a great northern carbon sink is now drying out, weakening and, in too many cases, burning. We've talked about 'the new normal' when it comes to climate change, but there's nothing normal about this. It's not normal that the residents of a city such as Flin Flon — built around mining, industry and resilience — are now scrambling to flee for their lives. It's not normal that First Nations must evacuate on short notice with minimal resources, repeating a cycle of crisis and recovery that is disproportionately borne by Indigenous communities across this country. This is the real face of climate change. Not just melting ice caps and rising sea levels, but families forced from their homes in northern Manitoba. It's smoke warnings in Winnipeg. It's the rising cost of fighting fires that burn longer, hotter and more unpredictably than ever. The economic costs will be high and the emotional toll will be even higher. The worst part? We knew this was coming. We've known for years. Climate scientists have been warning that these fires — bigger, faster and more devastating — would become more common. Meanwhile, Kinew has requested help from the Canadian Armed Forces to assist with evacuations — a wise and necessary move. The emergency response has been swift, including from the Red Cross. Manitobans, as always, are stepping up to help wherever they can. Volunteers are mobilizing and the City of Winnipeg has opened arenas as temporary shelters for evacuees. We've seen before what Manitobans can do when we come together. During the 1997 flood. During the pandemic. During countless blizzards and droughts. We help each other. We rebuild. But we need more than emergency response. We need prevention. We need investment in firefighting infrastructure, in forest management, in early warning systems. We need to build communities that are resilient — not just in spirit, but in the concrete, structural ways that can protect people when disaster strikes. And above all, we need a wholesale shift in how we treat climate change. It can no longer be a 'future problem.' It's a 'right now' problem. Manitoba, Canada and the world must treat this like the crisis it is. That means bold action, not polite targets. Weekday Mornings A quick glance at the news for the upcoming day. This week, Manitoba is in crisis. But it's a story that will play out in communities across Canada with increased intensity and danger going forward. This problem is not going away. The smoke will eventually clear. The fire will be brought under control. But unless we change course, this won't be the last time a Manitoba town flees in fear. This won't be the last time a premier pleads for federal support. This won't be the last headline of destruction and mass evacuations. Let Flin Flon, Pimicikamak and Mathias Colomb be the fire alarms we finally heed. Because this isn't just Manitoba's crisis, it's everyone's. Tom BrodbeckColumnist Tom Brodbeck is a columnist with the Free Press and has over 30 years experience in print media. He joined the Free Press in 2019. Born and raised in Montreal, Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and commerce. Read more about Tom. Tom provides commentary and analysis on political and related issues at the municipal, provincial and federal level. His columns are built on research and coverage of local events. The Free Press's editing team reviews Tom's columns before they are posted online or published in print – part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. 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First Post
6 days ago
- Climate
- First Post
Over 17,000 people evacuated as Canada's Manitoba province declares wildfire emergency
The evacuations include the town of Flin Flon, where 5,000 residents were told earlier to get ready to flee on a moment's notice as a major wildfire bore down on the mining town named after a fictional character in a 1905 paperback novel read more The wildfire threatening Flin Flon, a city of roughly 5,000, started in Saskatchewan on Monday and stretched into Manitoba on Tuesday after firefighters were unable to contain it. Government of Manitoba More than 17,000 people in Canada's western Manitoba province were being evacuated on Wednesday as the region experienced its worst start to a wildfire season in years. 'The Manitoba government has declared a province-wide state of emergency due to the wildfire situation,' Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew told a news conference. 'This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most people's living memory,' he said. Kinew said he asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to send in the Canadian military to help with the evacuations and firefighting. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Military aircraft, Kinew said, would be deployed 'imminently' to help move people out of endangered remote northern communities to safety, along with additional firefighting resources. The evacuations include the town of Flin Flon, where 5,000 residents were told earlier to get ready to flee on a moment's notice as a major wildfire bore down on the mining town named after a fictional character in a 1905 paperback novel. Residents of several other remote towns and Indigenous communities have also now been told to leave. Most of the evacuees are expected to be transported to the Manitoba capital of Winnipeg. 'Flames 121 feet high' Evacuee Sheryl Matheson told AFP the wildfires had surrounded her small town of Sherridon, northeast of Flin Flon. 'It's been overwhelming,' said the owner of a fishing lodge. 'It was very smokey. You could see the fires four or five kilometers away and moving fast.' 'The flames were shooting over 121 feet high and firefighters couldn't get close enough to the fire to do anything.' Elsaida Alerta told public broadcaster CBC she was having 'major anxiety' as she and her family readied to leave Flin Flon, where she has lived for three years. 'Especially for somebody that lived in a big city (previously), that never had to evacuate, this is definitely nerve-wracking,' she said. The only highway out of Flin Flon still open was jammed with traffic and local petrol stations had run out of gasoline, she said. 'We basically gathered all our essential things, important documents, medications and, you know, things that our animals will need,' she said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We're just gonna make our way and hope for the best.' 'Changing climate' Premier Kinew said the widespread nature of the fires was cause for alarm. 'For the first time, it's not a fire in one region, we have fires in every region. That is a sign of a changing climate that we are going to have to adapt to,' Kinew said. Twenty-two wildfires were active in the province. Nearly 200,000 hectares of forests have been scorched in just the past month, or triple the annual average over the previous five years, Kirstin Hayward of the Manitoba wildfire service said. 'Manitoba has the highest fire activity in Canada so far this year, due in part to a prolonged period of warm and dry conditions,' she said. Climate change has increased the impact of extreme weather events in Canada. About 1,000 residents of Lynn Lake and Marcel Colomb First Nation in Manitoba and 4,000 people from the northern village of Pelican Narrows and other communities in neighboring Saskatchewan had already been evacuated earlier in the week. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A firefighter was also severely injured when he was struck by a falling tree while battling blazes. He was being treated in hospital, Kinew said. The Manitoba premier said emergency shelters were being set up and companies and communities across the province were being asked to 'open your doors' to displaced residents. Earlier this month, two residents of the small community of Lac du Bonnet died after being trapped in a major wildfire northeast of Winnipeg. In 2023, the worst wildfire season in the country's history, the only recorded deaths were among firefighters. There are currently 134 active fires across Canada, including in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. Half are considered out of control.
