Canadian Wildfire Smoke Returns to US Skies

Smoke from Canada is again blurring the American skyline. A rash of new wildfires in British Columbia over the weekend has sent haze sweeping thousands of miles across the United States, stretching from the Pacific Northwest to New England, reports the Washington Post. Eleven fresh fires were reported in the province, which declared a state of emergency Saturday as thousands evacuated near Summerland, about 40 miles north of the US border. "We need to brace ourselves for that bad news when it's time to go back. Everybody will know somebody who has lost a home," Summerland Mayor Doug Holmes said. An 80-year-old woman was killed while trying to flee that fire.

The biggest blaze, the Bald Range Fire, has already charred more than 33,000 acres and is still uncontrolled. Canada's national fire preparedness is now at its highest level, with officials warning that emergency measures may be needed; the AP notes that Canada has put its military on alert to help battle the blazes. Forecasters say smoke will thicken over the Midwest on Monday, then spread into the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and parts of the Southeast through midweek.