Blazes in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan have forced thousands to evacuate. Smoke from the fires is expected to waft over the U.S. through the weekend.
Canadian authorities have called in the military to help with the “sheer scale” of the evacuations
Minnesota began feeling the impact of the blazes on May 29, according to the state’s Pollution Control Agency. Upper Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan were expected to experience poor air quality by the evening. Smoke is expected to hit the Ohio Valley on May 30 and the Carolinas by the early hours of Saturday.
Minnesota authorities warned of unhealthy levels of exposure to fine particles from the wildfires. Symptoms include everything from shortness of breath to heart attack and stroke.