Wildfire smoke from Canada creates hazy conditions and poor air quality in Green Bay May 30, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ) — While the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has allowed the week-long air quality advisory to expire for now, it doesn’t quite mean we’re in the clear.
The Canadian wildfires remain ongoing, and Craig Czarnecki with Wisconsin DNR Air Management says there are a lot of factors that keep the flames burning.
“They’re seeing unseasonably warm temperatures, drought conditions, a lack of snow pack over the winter,” explained Czarnecki. “Lightning strikes are often a common ignition source for wildfire too, especially in areas with dry conditions like Canada has right now.”
During the 2024 wildfire season in Canada, Wisconsin only saw three days of air quality advisories. 2023 broke records with Canadian wildfires; as over 37 million acres burned. That year Wisconsin had 21 air quality advisory days. As of Wednesday, Wisconsin has now had 22 days of air quality advisories in the 2025 wildfire season.
This wildfire season in Canada is the second worst season (behind 2023), as 16 million acres have burned so far. That’s about the size of the entire state of West Virginia, and three times more than the yearly average.
The Canadian wildfire season usually begins mid-summer, but the past few years has seen the season start in spring. The wildfire season usually wraps up around September as cooler, wetter weather moves in.
“As long as those fires continue to burn, we’re going to continue to have chances of feeling those smoke impacts here in Wisconsin for the rest of our summer, unfortunately,” said Czarnecki.
The Wisconsin DNR is assisting with the Canadian wildfires; staff and equipment has been mobilized across parts of the western U.S. and Canada to help with fire suppression.
Czarnecki says in the short term, Wisconsin’s air quality will continue to improve into the weekend, but around Sunday and the beginning of next week, there’s potential for another advisory.
You can monitor the current air quality around Wisconsin here.
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