"Why Are So Many Of Canada’s Wildfires Burning ‘Out Of Control’?"

"Many fires burning across Canada, forcing evacuations and threatening air quality in the United States, cannot simply be put out, authorities and experts say." 

"Of the more than 200 wildfires incinerating Canadian forests — and sending smoke into the United States — more than half are burning “out of control,” and some are being monitored but allowed to burn, Canadian authorities said.

As fires intensify, so do concerns over air quality. But conditions on the ground mean that suppressing many of the fires swiftly is not realistic, authorities and researchers say.

Although Canadian authorities have mobilized a “full response” to most of the fires, which means firefighters are actively trying to suppress them, the majority are expected to continue growing, and some are being observed and analyzed without an immediate response, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) said.

Severe winds and smoke complicate suppression efforts, significantly impairing visibility, and remote areas with tall flames pose significant challenges for the deployment of firefighters, according to wildfire researchers in Canada."

Angie Orellana Hernandez reports for the Washington Post June 4, 2025.

SEE ALSO:

"Canadian Wildfire Smoke Causes ‘Very Unhealthy’ Conditions In American Midwest And Reaches Europe" (AP)

"Canadian Wildfire Smoke Spreads Across A Third Of US" (Reuters)

"Maps Show U.S. Air Quality And Canada Wildfire Smoke Forecast" (CBS News)

 

Source: Washington Post, 06/05/2025