Ontario wildfires grow to 735,000 hectares

TORONTO — Wildfires across Ontario have expanded to 735,000 hectares (1.8 million acres), up from 650,000 hectares over the weekend, Premier Doug Ford said Monday. While air quality has improved across much of Ontario, wildfire smoke continues to create unhealthy conditions in parts of the U.S. Midwest.

Speaking at a news conference in Toronto, Ford said Ontario is currently battling 190 active wildfires. Around 1,800 residents have been evacuated from sparsely populated communities in northwestern Ontario as firefighters continue efforts to contain the blazes.

"We will not spare a penny fighting these fires and keeping people safe," Ford said.

Most of the fires are burning in remote and difficult-to-access areas, making suppression efforts more challenging. The ongoing wildfire crisis has also heightened tensions between Canada and the United States, with some U.S. politicians criticizing Canada's response.

Last week, heavy smoke from wildfires in northern and western Ontario, along with fires in northern Minnesota, pushed Toronto to the top of global air pollution rankings before drifting into New York and Washington.

Air quality has since improved across southern Ontario, as well as the U.S. Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. However, smoke continues to affect several Midwestern states.

As of 11:30 a.m. ET (3:30 p.m. GMT) on Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow website rated air quality as "unhealthy" or "unhealthy for sensitive groups" across parts of Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that he urged Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to do more to control the Ontario wildfires. Trump said he discussed the issue with Carney during the FIFA World Cup final, which both attended, two days after threatening additional tariffs on Canadian goods over the wildfire smoke affecting the United States.

Carney has not directly responded to Trump's remarks but has said that all countries, including the United States, must do more to address climate change.

Ford called Trump's criticism and tariff threats "unacceptable," saying Canada has consistently supported the United States during natural disasters. He pointed to Ontario sending hydro workers to assist after Hurricane Helene in 2024 and deploying water bombers to California to help fight wildfires in 2025.

"Rather than criticize and threaten Canada, your closest friends, maybe one day you're going to need our help," Ford said.

Large wildfires have become increasingly common in Canada, which is home to some of the world's largest forests. Climate experts say rising temperatures have created drier conditions, increasing the risk and intensity of wildfires. -Reporting by Ryan Patrick Jones in Toronto; Editing by Mark Porter/Reuters