Canada has more than 200 wildfires out of control

Canada records 896 active forest fires, of which more than 200 are out of control, according to data released by authorities this Friday (July 17, 2026). The province of Ontario has around 80 uncontained fires and remains among the regions most affected by the fire season.

According to the Canadian Forest Fire Information System, around 2.8 million hectares have already been consumed by fire in 2026. On July 10, the total was 1.6 million, that is, 1.2 million hectares were burned in one week.

Smoke from the fires crossed the border and worsened air quality in several regions of the United States. At least 12 states have issued warnings to the population, recommending that children, the elderly and people with respiratory illnesses avoid outdoor activities. Cities in the Midwest and Northeast recorded high levels of air pollution.

Two days before the World Cup final, the New York region has the 4th worst air quality among large cities in the world, according to information from IQAir, a Swiss air quality technology company. Local authorities issued an alert recommending that residents reduce intense physical activity outdoors and take extra breaks if they need to leave the house.

Friction between USA and Canada

The crisis caused diplomatic friction between the 2 countries. This Friday (Jul 17), the President of the United States, Donald Trump (Republican Party), held the Canadian government responsible for the effects of the fires and stated that the costs associated with smoke should be incorporated into the tariffs already imposed on the neighboring country.