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The sky was hazy Monday, June 2, for much of the Midwest due to the Canadian wildfires. With the air quality being deemed unhealthy for everyone, specifically sensitive groups, many people have been spending as little time outside as possible.

According to Minnesota鈥檚 Pollution Control Agency, multiple rounds of smoke are expected to blow south. Canada鈥檚 wildfire season typically lasts from March until October.

With the fires escalating, two people were killed after a small Manitoban town becoming engulfed in flames, according to multiple news reports. These fires are serious, and people are urged to pay close attention to weather alerts and news.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, about 1.7 million acres had burned across both Saskatchewan and Manitoba by Monday afternoon. Manitoba鈥檚 wildfires are out of control, and are largely burning on its northwest border with Saskatchewan. However, in Saskatchewan, the fires are mostly concentrated in the north.

鈥淎bout 17,00 people were ordered to leave and more communities can expect the same in the coming days, said Wab Kinew, the premier of Manitoba,鈥� according to The New York Times.

So, what exactly is causing these wildfires? Government data shows that 98 of 106 of Manitoba鈥檚 wildfires have been caused by people. Four were determined to have occurred naturally, likely as a result of lightning, and another four are still under investigation.

鈥淚n 2023, scientists at Canada鈥檚 natural resources department found that lightning sparked fires that burned 93% of the total wildfire area, and the remaining 7% of the area burned from human causes,鈥� the Times reported.

Canada鈥檚 prime minister, Mark Carney, has ordered an emergency response group to address the wildfires. The Canadian government also promised to match donations to the Canadian Red Cross, lend military aid, and provide other assistance.

Canada鈥檚 worst wildfire season on record was 2023, killing eight firefighters. In just that year, 7,100 wildfires burned 37 million acres, which is an area larger than the size of England, according to the Canadian government. Scientists even called those wildfires the of 2023.

These wildfires mean hazy skies, campfire smells, and poor air quality for the Midwestern parts of the United States. Sensitive groups such as pregnant people, newborns, elderly adults, and those with respiratory or heart problems should limit their time outdoors as much as possible. This means only going outdoors when absolutely necessary. Even if you are a healthy individual, you should still largely limit your time outdoors to avoid the smoke.

While it is difficult to predict when these fires will ease up, the National Weather Service and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency predict that the conditions will persist through at least June 2, and likely last longer.