Overview

• Canadian fire officials report over 700 active wildfires have burned more than 6.6 million hectares so far in 2025, leaving many blazes uncontained
• Air quality advisories cover at least six Midwest states, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Nebraska, as smoke reduces visibility and raises PM2.5 levels
• Minneapolis registered a PM2.5 level that placed it third among the world’s most polluted major cities, while Chicago ranked ninth, according to IQAir data
• Meteorologists attribute the intense fire season to prolonged drought, milder winters and reduced snowpack that have primed forests to burn earlier and more fiercely
• Forecasts show smoky conditions persisting through Monday with health officials urging sensitive groups to limit outdoor activity and follow air quality guidance