Smoke from Canadian wildfires enveloped much of the Northeastern U.S., prompting officials in more than a dozen states to issue air quality alerts on Friday (July 17).

Smoke blanketed the White House and stretched across states along the Eastern Seaboard, reaching as far west as Minnesota.

Some 859 active fires were burning in Canada on Thursday (July 16), with 113 were considered out of control, according to the government. So far, 2.384 million hectares (5.89 million acres) have burned.

Wildfires in recent years have overwhelmingly impacted remote indigenous communities. Indigenous Services Canada said 1,600 individuals had been evacuated from First Nations communities due to fires this season, as of July 15.

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Smoke from Canadian wildfires blankets U.S. Midwest, Northeast

VIDEO SHOWS: VIEWS OF U.S. CITIES AND LANDMARKS SHROUDED IN SMOKE FROM CANADA WILDFIRES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: MILWAUKEE, WISCONSON, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE WISN - No use USA / No archive) (MUTE)

1. MILWAUKEE SKYLINE SHROUDED IN SMOKE

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE WLS - No use USA / No archive) (MUTE)

2. CHICAGO SKYLINE SHROUDED IN SMOKE

DULUTH, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE WDIO - No use USA / No archive) (MUTE)

3. DULUTH HARBOUR SHROUDED IN SMOKE

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE WPVI - No use USA / No archive) (MUTE)

4. PHILADELPHIA SKYLINE SHROUDED IN SMOKE

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (ABC AFFILIATE KSTP - No use USA / No archive) (MUTE)

5. MINNEAPOLIS SKYLINE SHROUDED IN SMOKE

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY, UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

6. NEW YORK NEW JERSEY STADIUM - THE VENUE FOR THE WORLD CUP FINAL - SHROUDED IN SMOKE

WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 17, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (Mute)

7. SMOKE IN THE SKY ABOVE THE WHITE HOUSE

8. CLOSER VIEW OF SMOKE IN THE SKY ABOVE THE WHITE HOUSE / FLAG AT HALF STAFF ON WHITE HOUSE ROOF