Trump threatens new Canada tariffs over wildfire smoke in US cities

Some residents in northern Ontario were forced to evacuate due to the ongoing fires. One First Nations chief reported her community was “burnt to ashes”.

Fires are also burning on the country’s west coast, where more than 59 active fires in British Columbia were reported on Friday. The British Columbia Wildfire Service said that 39 of those fires started in the last 24 hours and more than half (31 fires) are out of control, prompting firefighters to use more aggressive means to control them.

A large cluster of fires affecting northwestern areas of Ontario are responsible for sending thick plumes of smoke and poor air quality across the region and into the US.

On Thursday, thick haze of smoke blocked views across New York City, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. Likewise, national monuments across Washington DC were obstructed by the hazy conditions.

Officials have stressed for people to stay indoors, some areas even passing out free masks, due to the poor health impacts of inhaling the fumes.

It’s led to outdoor activities being cancelled across the northern parts of the US, from Chicago and Detroit to parts of Pennsylvania and New England. Summertime camps were brought indoors, concerts were rescheduled – and at least one beach was shuttered along a popular lake.

Poor air quality also affected air travel in some areas where low-visibility conditions at airports caused flight delays.

The inclement weather has also sparked concerns around Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at MetLife Stadium – an open-air venue – in New Jersey, where Trump is due to attend.

White House officials – including Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House’s World Cup task force – is holding informal meetings with Fifa officials and others monitoring the wildfires, but no larger, formal meeting has so far been planned.

Forecasters believe that rains in the area over the weekend will improve conditions before the two teams take the pitch at 1500e (2000 BST).

In addition to the hazardous smoke extending across to the US, wildfires in northern Ontario have forced dozens from local First Nations communities to evacuate, with videos showing some fleeing the remote area by boat.

Members of the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation in the northern part of the province say they are “distraught” after fires tore through the community with very little warning.

Matthew Hoppe, incident commander for the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation, told the BBC that his community was devastated by the wildfires in northern Ontario.

Community members had to “self-evacuate” via small boats on Monday afternoon with the fire rapidly approaching, Hoppe said, adding that there were no deaths or direct injuries, he says, but the community has been “completely levelled”.

Namaygoosisagagun First Nation Chief Helen Paavola told local news outlet CityNews in an interview that an aerial flyover showed that her community has been “burnt to ashes”.

Ford said a total of 10 communities have had to evacuate, with many now seeking refuge in southern Ontario cities.

“It’s a miracle that no one lost their lives,” the premier said.

With additional reporting by Katie Williams and Nardine Saad