Canadian wildfire smoke back AGAIN forcing thousands to evacuate as US fears dangerous air quality

Wildfires have returned to Canada, with the billowing smoke forcing thousands from their homes and raising the alarm about poor air quality in the United States.

The blaze started Friday in northeast British Columbia and almost doubled in size by the start of the weekend, smoldering just a few miles outside Fort Nelson's city limits. By Sunday, the fire had consumed over 13,500 acres. 

Fort Nelson and the Fort Nelson Indian Reserve have a combined population of about 3,000 people, most of whom have been evacuated according to municipality mayor Rob Frayer.

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows smoke beginning to drift into the U.S., with light to medium coverage in Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota.

These developments have triggered concern about a potential repeat of Canada's 2023 wildfire season, which was the most destructive in the country's history.

A massive wildfire in British Columbia has scorched 4,200 acres in the Canadian province and forced nearly 3,000 people from their homes

While the smoke seemed to be at its worst in June 2023 (pictured), it returned a month later, triggering an air quality advisory

Authorities issued an evacuation notice for several communities in Alberta on Saturday as the blaze grew (pictured)

Over 6,500 fires burnt nearly 71,000 square miles of land from the West Coast to the Atlantic provinces, and a blanket of smog covered New York City for a three-day period last June, turning the iconic skyline orange.

Scenes of chaos unfolded in Fort Nelson, where the community's only hospital shuttered. 

The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nation warned those who chose to stay that emergency medical services would not be available, nor 'groceries or other amenities'.

In the neighboring province of Alberta, authorities posted an alert about a wildfire 15.5 miles southwest of the city of Fort McMurray.

The alert was upgraded to an evacuation notice Saturday, as residents in Saprea Creek Estates were also placed on alert from the municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Roaring winds pushed smoke across the province on Saturday, putting the city of Edmonton under an air quality advisory with hazard levels rated at 10-plus, or 'very high risk'.

Alberta Wildlife said the windy conditions challenged efforts to battle the blaze, despite deploying five crews of wildland firefighters, nine helicopters and air tankers.

Meteorologists do not anticipate rain and urge people to stay indoors over the next few days. While conditions are expected to begin to improve Sunday night, they will likely remain poor into the beginning of the week.

New York City was cast in an eerie orange glow as smoke billowed over the border last summer

The smoke has raised concern about poor air quality, with residents fearing that there may be a repeat of Canada's 2023 wildfire season, which blanketed New York city in smog for three days

Conditions were worst over a three-day period in June, with air quality levels ranked 'Hazardous' according to AirNow.gov

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for several counties on June 6, 2023

New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond counties were ultimately placed under an air quality health advisory

The air quality in the Big Apple was among the worst in the world

In addition to reduced visibility on the roads, those with preexisting conditions are at risk of experiencing health effects from wildfire smoke.

Canadian officials warned Sunday that people with lung diseases, asthma and heart disease are among those at the highest risk, in addition to pregnant women, older adults, children and those who work outdoors.

Those who must spend time outdoors are encouraged to wear a mask to reduce exposure to particles in the smoke.

Last month, the federal government warned that Canada faces yet another 'catastrophic' wildfire season due to higher-than-average spring and summer temperatures and El Nino weather conditions.

Smoke was propelled into New York City last summer, casting the city in an eerie orange glow.

Air quality in the Big Apple became some of the worst in the world. The index gradually rose from 'unhealthy' to 'hazardous' on AirNow.gov, a monitoring platform created by the U.S. government.

On June 6, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued an air quality health advisory for New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond counties.

And it seemed there was no end in sight. Smoke returned to the area the following, and on July 17, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that an air quality advisory had been issued.

'The current Air Quality Index is 120, which means it's unhealthy for sensitive groups,' Adams wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 

As of Sunday, several cities across Alberta, including Edmonton, were under an air quality advisory with hazard levels rated at 10-plus, or 'very high risk'

Alberta Wildlife said windy conditions challenged efforts to battle the blaze, despite deploying five crews of wildland firefighters, nine helicopters and air tankers

Meteorologists do not anticipate rain and urge people to stay indoors due to poor air quality

Last month, the federal government warned that Canada faces yet another 'catastrophic' wildfire season

Higher-than-normal temperatures and widespread drought conditions may prompt the wildfire season to begin sooner than May and end later than October

It is yet to be seen just how this year's wildfires will impact the United States.

However, as more than 80 active blazes cast smoke into the Midwest on Sunday, Minnesota was placed under a statewide air quality alert - the first of 2024.

The alert will be in effect through 8 a.m. Monday in northern Minnesota and until noon in southern parts of the state.

As of 10 a.m., an air quality index of 174 was reported in Beltrami County and 157 in Clay County, both 'unhealthy' levels according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Air quality is expected to reach the red level of the MCPA's scale, denoting conditions that are unhealthy for all groups, even those without preexisting conditions.

The agency has urged people to limit time outdoors.

Canada's wildfire season typically runs from May through October, but rising temperatures and widespread drought conditions may compound this risk.  

'With the heat and dryness across the country, we can expect that the wildfire season will start sooner and end later, and potentially be more explosive,' Canada Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said at a press conference.

The country witnessed a record number of wildfires last year that forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes in British Columbia.

Nineteen counties in 11 states had multiple days with 'very unhealthy' and 'hazardous' air quality.