US Reaches Highest Wildfire Preparedness Level 5 as Smoke Blankets 20 States Affecting 109 Million; Tropical Storm Bertha Develops in Gulf as Trump Demands Canada Control Fires and Floats Tariffs

Wildfire smoke is pushing air quality to dangerous levels across New York City, the Tri-State area, and Connecticut through at least Thursday.

Wildfire smoke from Canadian wildfires — now numbering 857 active fires with roughly 725 out of control across Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories — and fires in Minnesota continues to blanket large portions of the United States, with air quality alerts stretching across at least 20 states from Minnesota to New Hampshire, Virginia, and beyond, affecting an estimated 109 million people. The United States has now reached National Preparedness Level 5, the highest level of wildfire activity and national resource commitment. Canada remains at National Preparedness Level 4, its second-highest designation. The Babylon Fire has surpassed 107,000 acres burned, though crews are reported to be nearing full containment of that blaze. Minnesota officials have extended air quality alerts through July 20, with unhealthy conditions affecting communities including Albert Lea, Rochester, and Winona. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activities and watch for health symptoms. New coverage underscores that unsafe air quality has disproportionately affected vulnerable communities, including people with pre-existing health conditions, unhoused individuals, and those who work outdoors. Residents across the US and Canada are describing feelings of 'profound, resigned hopelessness' as the smoke crisis drags on, with millions reporting health impacts ranging from stinging eyes and respiratory distress to worsening cardiovascular conditions. Health experts warn that dangers from wildfire smoke persist long after flames are extinguished, with black carbon particles posing serious long-term health risks in addition to the immediate PM2.5 hazards. Authorities and health experts are also emphasizing the importance of maintaining clean indoor air during the crisis, including the use of air purifiers, sealing indoor spaces, and wearing N95 or KN95 masks when outdoors, as the invisible fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the greatest risk to human health. Compounding the smoke crisis, severe thunderstorms, tornado watches, flash flood warnings, and heavy rain have struck parts of the northeast U.S. through Saturday night, July 18. The Jersey Shore has been bracing for a string of severe storms bringing flood risks and potential tornado warnings. Multiple rounds of severe storms are affecting the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania, and several New York City neighborhoods have been hit by thunderstorms even as poor air quality from wildfire smoke persists across the metro area — with New Yorkers reporting stinging eyes as pollution levels elevated and temperatures soared simultaneously. Rain is expected to alleviate conditions in the mid-Atlantic and northeast, and smoke is anticipated to clear for many northeastern areas by Sunday as storms bring a change in conditions. Climate experts warn that the record rainfall and flash flooding seen across multiple states are being driven by climate change. Adding to the weather threats, Tropical Storm Bertha has developed along the US Gulf Coast, with its center located approximately 110 miles south of Panama City, Florida. The storm could bring additional heavy rain to the Gulf Coast region. The crisis has escalated politically. President Donald Trump directly confronted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, telling him that Canada must get the wildfires under control and suggesting that Canada should 'pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs.' Trump has previously accused Canada of 'willful negligence' in forest management and threatened to add 'incalculable' pollution costs to tariffs on Canadian imports, declaring he is 'holding Canada responsible' for the wildfires causing poor air quality across the U.S. Republican lawmakers have also separately threatened Canada with sanctions over the drifting smoke, with at least one senator explicitly calling for sanctions. The move comes as the Trump administration has repealed several climate protections, drawing criticism from environmental advocates who argue these rollbacks worsen the conditions that fuel wildfires. The crisis is also disrupting major sporting events: a Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cleveland Guardians MLB game was postponed due to hazardous air quality conditions. The smoke is creating dystopian, haze-filled views over Chicago and near the New York-area stadium set to host the upcoming FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday, with the match expected to go ahead as forecasters indicate some improvement in conditions. Adding to the regional burden, a wildfire in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia has grown to 108 acres, further worsening already-smoky skies over the state. Charlottesville, Virginia has issued a Code Red Air Quality Alert, and Richmond, Virginia has escalated to Code Purple — indicating 'very unhealthy' conditions — with authorities urging residents to stay indoors. Michigan emerged as having the worst air quality in the country, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Grand Rapids, Detroit, and the eastern Upper Peninsula reaching or surpassing 500 — the maximum level, classified as 'hazardous.' Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and Chief Public Health Officer Ali Abazeed held a press conference to address the crisis and urge residents to limit time outdoors. Across Michigan, government offices, local businesses, and event hosts began closing or cancelling activities as a sepia-toned haze continued to blanket communities statewide. Maryland is under a Code Purple air quality alert for 'very unhealthy' conditions. New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation issued an updated statewide Air Quality Health Advisory, specifically noting that the Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, and Eastern Lake Ontario regions are forecast to reach 'Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups' levels. The tri-state region (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) remains under air quality alerts, with smoke coming primarily from wildfires burning in Ontario. Pennsylvania has also issued statewide air quality alerts, though Philadelphia is expecting a weekend reprieve as rainfall and a change in wind direction are forecast to push smoky air away from the city. Toronto was ranked by IQAir as having the worst air quality of any major city on Earth, surpassing Kinshasa and New Delhi, as Environment Canada issued health warnings and the sky over the city turned yellow. In the Carolinas, smoke from the Canadian wildfires is combining with forecast extreme heat to create a 'perfect storm' of hazardous conditions in areas such as Raleigh, North Carolina. In Minnesota, thousands of visitors were ordered to evacuate a remote wilderness area accessible only by boat due to dangerously heavy smoke. States in the upper Northeast — Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine — are seeing air quality rated 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' to 'moderate.' Some improvement is forecast for parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin, though much of northern Minnesota is expected to remain under 'very unhealthy' designations through at least July 20. Doctors and health experts warn that PM2.5 particles from wildfire smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, posing risks even for healthy individuals. The American Heart Association (AHA) has issued warnings that wildfire smoke exposure can trigger heart problems or worsen existing cardiovascular conditions. Health experts recommend the use of N95 or KN95 face masks, sealing indoor spaces, using air purifiers, and limiting outdoor exposure. Long-term US data underscores the worsening trend: between 1984 and 2024, over 16,000 large wildfires burned 179 million acres across the country, according to data reviewed by USA TODAY. Wildfires are also causing crises in Europe. In France, a massive wildfire in the Fontainebleau forest near Paris — described by officials as 'exceptional in scale' — prompted the evacuation of 900 homes and disrupted road and rail links. In Spain, deadly wildfires worsened by extreme heat, strong winds, and dry vegetation have now claimed at least 13 lives, including British couple Pete and Fran Gillam. In the United Kingdom, the National Fire Chiefs Council reported emergency services responding to 19 active wildfires across Britain, many near urban areas, as the country faces a 'firewave' driven by extreme heat. Real-time fire location and air quality maps are available through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) and AirNow.gov.

Why it matters

Elevated fine particulate levels affect millions of residents across New York and Connecticut, with vulnerable populations — including those with asthma, heart disease, or lung conditions — facing the greatest health risks during the multi-day event.

What's next

Connecticut's DEEP forecast indicates elevated fine particulate conditions are expected to persist through at least Thursday; residents should monitor local air quality index updates before spending extended time outdoors.

Key facts

Bias & framing notes

The Connecticut DEEP source is an authoritative government agency reporting its own official air quality forecast, lending high credibility to the Connecticut-specific facts. The ABC7 NY report provides regional framing but with limited specific data. The URMC health explainer is general background rather than event-specific reporting, adding context but no new facts about this particular smoke event. No source provided the geographic origin of the wildfires causing the smoke.

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