Canada Wildfires Ignite Blame Game in US: A Call for Collaboration

Fri Sep 26 2025 14:20:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Canadian wildfires create hazardous smoke affecting the US, lawmakers shift blame instead of addressing climate change, experts argue. A unified approach might be necessary.

Recent wildfires in Canada, particularly in Manitoba, have prompted complaints from US lawmakers regarding the drift of hazardous smoke into the United States. Critics assert that the focus should shift from blaming Canada to collaborating on solutions to the increasing risk posed by climate change. Experts note that the escalating frequency and intensity of wildfires are driven by broader environmental issues, and successful mitigation depends on joint efforts and understanding.

As deadly wildfires raged in the Canadian province of Manitoba this summer, Republican lawmakers in nearby US states penned letters asking that Canada be held accountable for the smoke drifting south.

Our skies are being choked by wildfire smoke we didn't start and can't control, wrote Calvin Callahan, a Republican state representative from Wisconsin, in a letter dated early August.

Callahan, along with lawmakers from Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota, filed a formal complaint with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging an investigation into Canada's wildfire management.

Manitoba premier Wab Kinew quickly condemned the move, accusing the lawmakers of throwing a timber tantrum and playing political games.

By August, the wildfires had scorched more than two million acres in Manitoba, forced thousands to evacuate, and claimed lives. The data shows that 2025 is on track to be Canada's second-worst wildfire season on record.

According to a September study, smoke from Canada's wildfires has had far-reaching health consequences, linking it to over 87,500 acute and premature deaths worldwide. This includes more than 4,100 acute, smoke-related deaths in the US.

Michael Brauer, a co-author of the study, stated the data emphasizes the seriousness of wildfire smoke as a public health issue, comparable to other major health threats.

While the blame is directed at Canada by some American officials, climate experts argue that the root of the problem lies in broader global issues driven by climate change. Until we as a global society deal with human-caused climate change, we're going to have this problem, said Mike Flannigan, an emergency management and fire science expert.

The worsening wildfires can be attributed to rising temperatures and arid land conditions, complicating wildfire management efforts. This summer, both Canada and the US have experienced severe wildfires, further highlighting the urgency for collaborative solutions rather than blame trading.

Experts advocate for more cooperative efforts to handle wildfires, emphasizing that Canada and the US might benefit from revisiting shared agreements to address air quality and pollution collaboratively.

In summary, the challenges brought by Canada’s wildfires underscore the need for an integrated response to climate change, requiring both national and international cooperation to mitigate future risks effectively.