Canada had its most destructive series of wildfires ever, and one expert says the country is currently on track this year to repeat that record-setting wildfire season in 2023.

Roughly 17,000 residents in the Canadian province of Manitoba have been evacuated because of nearly two dozen active wildfires, officials said Saturday.

In an ominous reminder of the summer of 2023, Canada’s worst wildfire season on record, smoke from the wildfires has been impacting air quality in several US states. The smoke has also billowed across the Atlantic and caused hazy skies in parts of western Europe.

As anyone who was around two years ago will remember, this is not the first time a hazy, unhealthy back of air engulfed and choked Chicago.

Living in the Midwest means being affected by the Canadian wildfires that occur just about every year. Here is what to know about these wildfires and how they’re affecting the Midwest.

The Canadian province of Manitoba has declared a state of emergency over a series of wildfires, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has agreed to send in the military to help.

An air quality index of 300 or higher is considered hazardous, and the record-breaking smoke AQI in Grand Portage reached 800 on Tuesday.

As wildfires rage across Manitoba, the Winnipeg Humane Society and Humane Canada have opened a temporary animal shelter at the St. Norbert Community Centre in Winnipeg to care for evacuees' pets.