Fires from coast to coast: A look at the wildfire situation across the country

Officials say there are 129 active fires in the northwest region, 62 of them burning out of control, and another 61 fires in the northeast. The Ontario government and the Assembly of First Nations have called on Ottawa to provide immediate support.  

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Fire crews in the small community of Pemberton, B.C., north of Whistler, worked through the night to battle a wind-whipped wildfire. Evacuation alerts and orders were in place, though officials said no structures were immediately at risk. 

Meanwhile, fires near Boston Bar in B.C.’s southern Interior triggered new evacuation orders Thursday, including for the townsite.  

NOVA SCOTIA

As many as 150 people have been ordered out of a rural area northeast of Halifax because of an out-of-control wildfire. The mandatory evacuation covers part of Mooseland Road, stretching south to Highway 7.

The fire is estimated to be about three square kilometres in size and crew have been battling it since Wednesday.

AIR QUALITY

Environment Canada has air quality warnings in place for a wide swath of the country, including southern Ontario, where millions of people are being choked out by thick, gritty air.

The agency says the hazy, smoky conditions may briefly improve during the day before poor air quality returns in the evening. The weather agency says smoky skies could persist into the weekend. 

The smoke has even reached major cities in the United States, including New York, Chicago and Detroit. Some American lawmakers have take note, criticizing Canada’s forest management practices.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 17, 2026.

The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Fires from coast to coast: A look at the wildfire situation across the country

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