Wildfires, Climate Change, Air Quality, and You

By Bethany O'Hagan, Stewardship and Rewilding

A map of the Canadian forest fires, the source of dangerous air quality that recently hovered over Chautauqua County last. Source: https://fireradar.ca/wildfire-map/ontario

As of Friday July 17, 2026, wildfires in Ontario, Canada, have climbed to over 190 active fires, with many still out of control. How and why is this happening? Isn’t Canada supposed to be cold and reliably so far north that it’s not supposed to be up in flames? This has happened for a variety of reasons, but it is mostly due to human induced climate change. While it may seem bizarre to think that fires can just ignite spontaneously (which they can), or that someone was out there with a lighter just itching to set things ablaze, I want to dive into why Ontario is on fire, and why our air was toxic for a few days here in Chautauqua County.

First, climate change. Canada is warming about twice as fast as the global average (look up Arctic Amplification), which doesn’t just make things a little toastier, it is fundamentally altering global weather patterns, especially in North America. Southwestern Ontario has experienced prolonged periods of hot, dry conditions this summer. Several heatwaves have blazed through the landscape like a sunbaked matchstick, creating conditions where a typically damp forest floor becomes a tinderbox. All of this contributes to longer warmer seasons. Earlier snowmelt, delayed rainfall, and longer warm seasons are stretching the fire season and drying out trees, shrubs, and dead plant material. That buildup creates “ladder fuels,” which allow fire to move from the ground into tree canopies and spread more rapidly by wind.

Second, human activity. Many fires start because of human carelessness. Burning trash or brush during dry times, leaving campfires unattended, throwing lit cigarettes onto the ground, riding ATVs which can spark in dry vegetation, fireworks, and even power lines under strain that bring us our precious internet and electricity are triggers for fires.

Third, lightning. Lightning storms in Ontario, especially in the remote northern stretches, regularly ignite sparks that escalate into infernos.

Many of Ontario’s fires are a result of natural causes and human carelessness.

Forest composition also matters. Southern Ontario is largely covered with deciduous trees such as maples, oaks, and similar species which are naturally less flammable than conifers. However, with so many downed and dead trees from storms, invasive fungus/pests killing trees, and downed branches, the surface fuel load is increasing dramatically setting the stage for a perfect wildfire storm.

Lastly, wind and geography can turn a manageable blaze into a monstrous inferno. Strong winds fan flames across already heated and dried landscapes, while topography funnels fire. In combination with high temperatures and the accumulated surface fuels, wildfires are travelling swiftly.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) which is a standardized system developed by the EPA to communicate the level of outdoor air pollutants and their potential health effects, is directly impacted by wildfires. At Everwild Land Trust, we realized that with all these wildfires impacting the AQI in our region, implementing a stop gap cancellation number on the AQI scale was paramount for our outdoor events and programs. This past weekend, we, along with many others in the community, unfortunately had to cancel many fun outdoor programs because the AQI reached the 400’s here in Chautauqua County, the max number on the scale is 500 and listed as “hazardous”!

In summary, Ontario’s wildfires are the product of multiple factors working together: rising temperatures from climate change, dry hot weather, lightning strikes, humans, stressed forests, accumulated dead fuel, and dense tree coverage providing a superhighway. The smoke and dangerous air quality they create are a reminder that these fires are no longer just a local problem. They remind us that nature is both beautiful and fierce and needs protecting. Slowing human induced climate change by protecting our natural spaces is crucial for the survival of our world, and our species’ ability to enjoy the great outdoors.

Everwild Land Trust is the future of the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy - a nationally accredited land trust working towards a thriving Chautauqua region where nature and people flourish together in community, sustained by shared responsibility, resilient ecosystems, and a lasting sense of belonging for generations to come.