Ontario's Wildfire Crisis
Ontario wildfires force train evacuation, cause record-bad air quality in Toronto
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A CN train was caught on video traveling through wildfire flames near Armstrong, Ontario, forcing crew members to evacuate the area, according to National Post. The dramatic footage has sparked fury from rail workers' union leaders, even as smoke from Ontario's wildfires pushed Toronto's air quality to the worst of any city on Earth.
The global air quality monitor IQAir ranked Toronto number one for worst air pollution worldwide, with an Air Quality Index of 184 — a level considered unhealthy for anyone with existing health conditions, The Sudbury Star reported. There are currently 838 active wildfires burning across Canada, and nearly 2 million hectares of forest have already burned this year.
CN Train Surrounded by Flames Near Armstrong, Ontario
Video circulating online showed a CN train moving through a corridor of fire near Armstrong, Ontario, with flames burning on both sides of the tracks. The crew on board was evacuated from the area due to the wildfire activity, according to The Province. CN has not publicly explained why the train was sent through the fire zone.
Teamsters Canada Rail Conference president Paul Boucher said CN never should have put the train on those tracks. "The company should have avoided sending a train down those lines," Boucher said, citing the ongoing and well-known wildfire situation in the region, according to National Post. The union said workers should not be forced to travel through such dangerous conditions.
Toronto Ranks as World's Most Polluted City
IQAir, a global air quality monitoring organization, listed Toronto as having the worst air quality of any city on the planet. The city's AQI hit 184, a level that is unhealthy for all people — not just those with health conditions, Chatham Daily News reported. Ontario's government issued a "very high risk" warning for Toronto, with a forecast Air Quality Health Index of 9 for Thursday.
University of Toronto professor Greg Evans explained why the sky looked so unusual. Smoke from wildfires burning to the north is being pushed south by prevailing winds, he said, according to Seaforth Huron Expositor. That smoke scatters light in a way that gives the sky a reddish or hazy orange tint across southern Ontario.
838 Active Wildfires Burning Across Canada
Canada is in the grip of a severe wildfire season. There are 838 active fires burning across the country right now, according to Fort McMurray Today. Nearly 2 million hectares of forest have burned so far this year — a staggering amount that is fueling smoke events across multiple provinces.
The fires burning north of Ontario are the direct source of the smoke smothering cities like Toronto, Pembroke Observer reported. Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of kilometres, carried by wind patterns that shift day to day. Officials said the situation could change depending on how the fires behave and where the winds blow.
Relief Possible Friday as Winds Shift and Rain Arrives
There may be some good news on the way. Forecasters say shifting winds and rain arriving Friday could help clear some of the smoke from the air over southern Ontario, according to Goderich Signal Star. That would bring AQI numbers down and ease the health risk for residents across the province.
Until then, health officials are urging people — especially those with heart or lung conditions — to stay indoors as much as possible. Keeping windows closed and avoiding outdoor exercise are among the top recommendations. An AQI of 184 means even healthy people can feel the effects of the polluted air.
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