Overview:
-The Canadian province of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency due to a series of wildfires, with 17,000 people evacuated.
-Michigan is at risk for elevated levels of fine particulate matter Friday and into Saturday due to the wildfires.
-Detroit's air quality index score Friday morning is 52, or a moderate level of concern.
Michigan faces an air quality advisory Friday and into Saturday morning due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.
The state could experience elevated levels of fine particulate matter, and conditions may be unhealthy for sensitive groups, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy said in a statement. Hourly levels could reach the unhealthy level “for a short period of time,” the state’s meteorologists said.
Record-shattering Canadian wildfires in 2023 led Michigan to begin issuing its first-ever air quality alerts for PM2.5 — fine particulate matter. The smoke that blanketed the Midwest that summer may have killed an estimated two dozen people in Detroit.
PM2.5 can cause or exacerbate respiratory and cardiovascular problems, including coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. The smoke can also irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs.
An air quality index measurement of 20 is equivalent to smoking one cigarette a day. Being exposed to an AQI of 150 over several days is equivalent to about seven cigarettes. The AQI in Detroit Friday morning is 52, in the moderate category, according to airnow.gov.
“The 2023 Canadian wildfire event emphasized how important communication is when wildfire smoke may impact Michigan’s communities,” said Annette Switzer, EGLE’s Air Quality Division director.
“We want to ensure residents are informed and know how to protect themselves and their families.”
MORE WILDFIRE SMOKE COVERAGE
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Canada is unlikely to see the kind of megafires that drove the 2023 smoke season in Detroit, experts say. Yet parts of Canada and the U.S. could still see large fires and send smoke to Michigan.
Climate is adding to Detroit air quality problems: American Lung Association
Detroit’s failing air quality grade in the American Lung Association’s State of the Air Report highlights the impact of climate change and wildfire smoke, as over 77 million people nationwide face unhealthy PM 2.5 pollution spikes.
Last year’s Canadian wildfire smoke may have killed more than 100 in Michigan alone
Detroiters suffer during wildfire smoke events. Here are some of their stories.
Manitoba fires trigger evacuation of 17,000 people
The Canadian province of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency over a series of wildfires, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has agreed to send in the military to help, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
“This is the largest evacuation Manitoba will have seen in most peoples’ living memory,” Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said.
He said the fires have forced 17,000 people across several communities to flee.
“The military is being called for help here because of the sheer scale of the 17,000 folks that we move relatively quickly,” Kinew said. “I’m happy to say that Prime Minister Mark Carney agreed with the request.”
The emergency declaration helps officials to safely transport evacuees and provide shelter.
The Manitoba city of Flin Flon earlier ordered all 5,000 residents to leave due to an approaching wildfire. Residents were told they should flee south with their essentials and aim to be out by midnight. It had already begun sending out high-needs hospital patients.
“Everybody has to be out by midnight and that includes me,” Flin Flon Mayor George Fontaine said. “I’m busy packing a couple of things and everybody is getting as organized as we can.”
He said people plan to take Highway 10 as it’s the only route out.
“That ends up in Winnipeg so we’ll see what happens,” Fontaine said. Flin Flon is nearly 400 miles (643 kilometers) northwest of Winnipeg, the provincial capital.
The fire began Monday just north in neighboring Saskatchewan and has exploded in size. The 1,200 residents of Creighton in Saskatchewan were also ordered to leave.
Crews struggled early on to contain the fire as water bombers were grounded due to a drone flying nearby.
There are 22 active wildfires in Manitoba. Officials said firefighters from across Canada are helping to fight the flames. On Sunday, a Parks Canada firefighter was severely injured.
So far this year, Manitoba has had 102 fires, which officials say is “well above” the province’s average of 77 by this time.
Canada’s wildfire season runs May through September. Its worst-ever wildfire season was in 2023. It choked much of North America with dangerous smoke for months.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.