Canadian wildfire smoke plagues northern US, prompts air quality alerts
Canadian wildfire smoke blankets major northern U.S. cities, triggering hazardous air quality alerts across 15 states for over 100 million Americans. Health experts emphasize the severe long-term and short-term risks of fine particulate matter, including worsening asthma, heart conditions and potential cancer risks.
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Wildfires in Canada have had an adverse affect in the Midwest and Northeast, thus affecting some sporting contests.
On Thursday, a Major League Soccer game was postponed, while an MLB game in Philadelphia had to be moved up an hour due to concerns.
With the unofficial second half of the Major League Baseball season underway on Friday, five games were slated to be played in affected areas, with several making some logistical changes.
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Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, during a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets on July 16, 2026. The Mets defeated the Phillies 4-1. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Here are the updates from the games.
Los Angeles Dodgers @ New York Yankees, 7:05 p.m. ET
The Yankees postponed a game in 2023 due to poor air quality, although at that time, it was more than double the 150-ish range it has been this week.
The quality in New York improved throughout the day, and the game is slated to be played.
Chicago White Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays, 7:15 p.m. ET
Of course, the Blue Jays play in the country where the wildfires have originated, prompting concern. The city had hazardous levels on Thursday night but reached “low health risk” by Friday afternoon. However, nearby cities in Ontario still had high health risk levels in the afternoon.
Thankfully, the Blue Jays play under a retractable roof at Rogers Centre, and the team announced shortly after 1 p.m. ET that the roof would be closed due to the air quality.
The Blue Jays say that if a game begins with the roof closed, “it may still be opened before the end of the sixth inning if the Umpire Crew Chief and MLB officials agree the weather has turned in a way that will ensure fan comfort and enjoyment.” Typically, the roof can change its status only once per game.
A general view of Citizens Bank Park during hazy conditions from wildfires in Canada in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed because of unsafe air quality. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Miami Marlins @ Milwaukee Brewers, 7:40 p.m. ET
At 1:10 p.m. ET, the air quality in Milwaukee was “very unhealthy” at an index of 287, but it was lowered to 133 in the 5 p.m. hour. The Brewers said that the game would be played as normally scheduled (American Family Field has a retractable roof), but fans were given the option to exchange their tickets for another game this season if they preferred.
Milwaukee has similar regulations for its roof as the Blue Jays, in that it should “be closed only in the event of impending rain or other adverse weather conditions,” and the roof can only open if “in the opinion of the home club, the climatic environment has reached a level where fan comfort and enjoyment will be best served by opening the roof to the natural atmospheric conditions.”
Pittsburgh Pirates @ Cleveland Guardians, 7:10 p.m. ET
At 3:00 p.m. ET, the Guardians posted their lineup to social media. But less than two hours later, they announced the game was postponed to Saturday as part of a day-night doubleheader. If fans are unable to attend the makeup, they can exchange their tickets for a future game.
A view of Progressive Field as smoke from Canadian wildfires covers the sky during the third inning of the Houston Astros-Cleveland Guardians game in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 6, 2025. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
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As of 5:00 p.m. ET, the air quality in Cleveland was at a 209, labeled “very unhealthy.” Nearby Akron reached “hazardous” levels near 500 late Thursday.
Minnesota Twins @ Chicago Cubs, 8:05 p.m. ET
The air quality index was a “very unhealthy” 241 in the Windy City in the afternoon but lowered to 138 later on. This is a rare Friday night game at Wrigley, but as of 5:10 p.m. ET, the game will be played.
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