More than 100 active fires are still burning in Ontario, forcing the emergency evacuation of residents.

In recent days, wildfires sweeping across northwestern Ontario have caused severe smog and a sharp deterioration in air quality in several regions, including Ottawa, the nation’s capital, and Toronto, Canada’s largest city.

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On Wednesday morning, Toronto’s air quality index ranked the worst among major global cities. According to data released by Environment Canada, Toronto’s Air Quality Health Index was classified as “very high risk.”

Ottawa also issued air quality alerts due to a combination of wildfire smoke and humid weather, with high humidity trapping smoke particles in the air and turning the sky yellow.

Meanwhile, a video widely circulated on social media showed a Canadian National (CN) train surrounded by raging wildfires near Armstrong, Ontario.

Wildfire smoke from Canada will soon spread across the Midwest and Northeast.

Smoke from wildfires raging across northern Minnesota and western Ontario in Canada is forecast to drift into the lower levels of the atmosphere across the Midwest, Northeast…
https://t.co/4wq5lTUTzi

— CLH (@CLH111354) July 16, 2026

The footage, filmed late Monday by a locomotive crew member, showed towering flames engulfing the woods on both sides of the train and casting an intense red glow throughout the locomotive cab. CN on Wednesday confirmed the authenticity of the video, adding that the train crew had been safely evacuated.

Currently, more than 100 active fires are still burning in northwestern Ontario, forcing the emergency evacuation of residents from several communities. CN has also announced a temporary suspension of train operations in the affected section.

Weather authorities warned that due to prevailing airflow and wind patterns, the heavy smog is expected to persist for several more days.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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