Wildfires in Canada Worsen Air Quality in Many Areas, Toronto’s Index at ‘High Risk’

In recent days, wildfires sweeping through Northwestern Ontario have caused a sharp deterioration in air quality across many parts of Canada, disrupting rail transport.

Due to wildfire smoke and haze, the air quality index of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, ranked among the lowest in the world’s major cities on the morning of the 15th.

According to data released by the Canadian Ministry of Environment, Toronto’s air quality health index was at a “high risk” level that day. The capital city of Ottawa also issued an air quality warning due to thick wildfire smoke and persistent hot, humid weather. High humidity is causing smoke particles to linger in the air, turning the sky yellow.

Currently, there are more than 120 active wildfires in northwestern Ontario. Residents of several Indigenous communities have been forced to evacuate urgently, and train operations in the area have been suspended.

A video circulated on social media recently shows a Canadian National Railway freight train near Armstrong, Ontario, becoming completely “surrounded” by raging wildfires on both sides. The footage, filmed by train crew members on the evening of the 13th local time, shows the night sky illuminated by roaring fires outside the windows, trees on both sides consumed by flames, and the cab flooded with a fierce red glow from the inferno outside.

On the 15th, Canadian National Railway confirmed the authenticity of the video to the media and stated that the crew members had been evacuated safely.

The Canadian meteorological department said that due to air currents and wind direction, the hazy, smoky weather may persist for several days.