Wildfire Smoke Blankets Toronto and Vancouver as Nearly 800 Fires Burn Across Canada

Roughly 800 wildfires are burning across Canada, with the most active evacuations concentrated in northwestern Ontario, where about 1,876 people remain displaced, and in British Columbia’s southern interior, where more than 5,000 residents were placed under new evacuation orders in recent weeks. The fires are among the most significant of the 2026 wildfire season, straining firefighting resources across multiple provinces at once.

Smoke from the fires has traveled far beyond the fire lines themselves, with both Toronto and Vancouver recording high-risk air quality alerts from blazes burning hundreds of kilometers away. Travelers in and around major Canadian cities should be aware that smoke-driven air quality issues can affect outdoor activities and, in severe cases, flight visibility, even when a destination is nowhere near an active fire.

Provincial and national park authorities have implemented rolling closures and access restrictions in fire-affected regions, and some backcountry and camping permits have been suspended for safety. Travelers with upcoming trips to affected areas of Ontario or British Columbia should check directly with the relevant provincial parks agency or Parks Canada for the latest closure and evacuation information before departing.

Anyone traveling to Canada this fall should monitor air quality index readings for their destination alongside the standard weather forecast, particularly for outdoor-heavy itineraries like hiking or camping trips. Travel insurance covering trip interruption due to wildfire evacuation is worth considering for trips to fire-prone regions during the remainder of the season.

Sources: Wego Travel Blog, Wikipedia