trained South African firefighters and then tried to pay them **** wages. That was in Alberta. The South Africans demanded more money and were sent home. What a horrible thing to happen to such brave people. Thankfully they've ironed out that bull****.

affecting a huge number of people. Even those not in immediate fire danger will be affected by smoke damage or by air quality or both.

The last two mornings I noticed a haziness in the air here in western NY. There is no visible smoke in my area, just the hazy sky. I didn't know why until I read that the wildfires had spread to Ontario. I think that, for now, most of the smoke is being blown east of us into New England rather than south to my area, although Buffalo is reporting some visible smoke.

It's a new experience for me to feel affected by wildfires. It's always seemed like something that happens elsewhere. I guess more of us can get used to things like this as climate change continues.

How much worse it must be for people who need to flee and are losing their homes.

so some of the smoke NY and other eastern States are having could be from there as well.

they are farther east from where I am. Prevailing winds here are usually west to east so places farther east of me in NY are experiencing smoke from Quebec. Ontario is closer to us here in western NY. Just across Lakes Erie and Ontario from us.

It's a tough time for so many.

Fires can spread quickly and they are not far from the capital.

route of smoke coming across Canada from Alberta. THAT'S where western NY is getting the hazy skies from, not Ontario, according to the report. It is smoke from the Alberta fires that is high enough that we are not breathing it and it is not affecting air quality for us here.

It was 10+ on the scale a little over a week ago. Even with my windows and patio door shut tight the smoke still penetrated my home, it was awful.

There are fewer out of control fires here now and they are more north than before but we are about to enter multiple days of high temperatures which will certainly make it more worrisome.

an area affected by massive wild fires. Around here there are occasionally some brush fires in open fields when it's dry here, but they are easily controlled. There are plenty of trees and a national forest about 80 miles away, but no fires that have ever been a threat.

What do you do inside when the smoke gets into your home? Sounds like you would need to run an air purifier.

and, because it contained fine particles, there were times I wore a mask which helped. I wore a mask when I needed to go onto my patio to water my planters as well. An air purifier would definitely been helpful, it's something I will seriously consider buying.