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As more than 200 wildfires rage in Canada, scientists have a warning for people in the U.S
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dealing with the smoke from the fires. Get used to it because the problem isn't going away anytime
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soon. In fact, it's likely to get worse. Scientists studying the environment tell NPR
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as temperatures rise and drier conditions become more prevalent, more wildfires will ignite
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Right now, nearly 70 wildfires are burning in British Columbia alone, and the fires to our north have forced tens of thousands to flee
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The smoke from the fires have prompted health alerts in the Midwest, and air quality from the edge of Kansas to the tip of Maine is listed as moderate to unhealthy, according to the EPA's AirNow webpage
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Doctors say wildfire smoke can cause respiratory problems, even in healthy people, and lead to serious lung or sinus infections
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They urge people in areas where air quality is poor due to the wildfire smoke to stay indoors when possible
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The scenes are reminiscent from the Canadian wildfires of 2023, when smoke blew into large portions of the U.S. and the haze lingered for days
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Ecologists say this may become the new normal. Those in Canada also note they're impacted by wildfire smoke from the U.S. as much as we are from them
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In 2020, you may remember smoke from the California wildfires led to poor air quality in Canada
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Scientists say it led to the worst air quality reading ever recorded in Vancouver
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Still, one Canadian scientist tells NPR she sympathizes with Americans dealing with the problem
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Her message to us? We're sorry for the smoke. For more on this story, download the Stradero News app or visit san.com
