Toronto experienced the worst air quality of any major city in the world on Wednesday as thick smoke from wildfires burning across north-western Ontario blanketed the city.
The dense haze reduced visibility, darkened the skies and prompted health authorities to advise residents to limit outdoor activities.
According to Environment Canada, Toronto's Air Quality Health Index reached 10+, the highest risk category, with hazardous conditions expected to continue into Thursday night. Swiss air quality monitoring company IQAir ranked Toronto above Kinshasa and Delhi for the poorest air quality, while New York City ranked fifth globally.
Although the fires remain hundreds of miles from Toronto and are not directly threatening major urban centres, smoke has travelled across a vast region of Canada and into the north-eastern United States.
Canada is currently battling 835 active wildfires, of which 112 are classified as out of control. Approximately 1.9 million hectares (4.7 million acres) have already burned this season, with the majority of fires located in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
The Canadian Government said the 2026 wildfire season began more slowly than the devastating seasons of 2023 and 2025 but warned that unusually warm temperatures continue to create favourable conditions for further fires.
Authorities urged people to reduce prolonged outdoor activity, particularly vulnerable groups such as children, older adults and those with heart or lung conditions.
The smoke also spread into the United States, where New York City experienced unhealthy air quality. Officials advised residents to avoid strenuous outdoor exercise and to take frequent breaks if spending time outside. The U.S. National Weather Service warned that smoky conditions could persist until the end of the week.
Dan Westervelt, an associate research professor at Columbia University, said conditions could deteriorate further across New York City, the Great Lakes region and New England.
Poor air quality has disrupted several public events linked to the FIFA World Cup.
The City of Toronto cancelled the FIFA Fan Festival and the planned England v Argentina World Cup watch party at Nathan Phillips Square due to health concerns.
Attention has also turned to Sunday's World Cup final in neighbouring New Jersey, where more than 80,000 spectators are expected to attend the match at an open-air stadium. A further 50,000 people are anticipated to watch the game from Central Park in Manhattan, where smoke was already visible across the skyline.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul encouraged residents to exercise caution, especially those with underlying health conditions.
The wildfires also forced emergency evacuations of people living in remote areas of Ontario.
Two small groups of children from Minnesota, participating in a YMCA wilderness camping trip, became trapped by advancing fires. One group was evacuated to safety by helicopter with assistance from the Canadian military before both groups were safely returned home.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz later confirmed that all the children had been rescued safely.
A dramatic video shared on social media showed a Canadian National freight train surrounded by flames near Armstrong, Ontario.
Following the incident, Canadian National evacuated employees and local residents from the area and temporarily suspended rail operations as a precaution while wildfire conditions remained severe.
Scientists say the combination of extreme heat and wildfire smoke is becoming an increasingly common feature of Canadian summers.
Greg Evans, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto, warned that such events are likely to become more frequent over the coming decades, requiring cities and residents to adapt to worsening environmental conditions.
Many Toronto residents reported noticing thick smoke and the smell of burning as they stepped outside on Wednesday morning.
Local resident Paula Oreskovich said the recurring smoke events highlighted the growing impact of climate change.
She described the deteriorating air quality as deeply concerning and said the repeated occurrence of wildfire smoke in recent summers demonstrated that climate change is no longer a distant threat but a reality affecting communities across the globe.
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