Ontario wildfire smoke chokes millions of people
July 20, 2026
Q: Toxic smoke from wildfires spread across several states and provinces last week, threatening the health of millions of people. Most of the smoke came from fires burning in the remote forests of northeastern Ontario. Where is the Canadian province of Ontario?
Circle the area on this map
Q: Some U.S. politicians condemned Canada over the spreading cloud of thick smoke. Wildfires were also producing smoke in which state on the Canadian border?
A. Maine
B. Michigan
C. Minnesota
D. Montana
Q: All but a half-mile of Ontario’s 1,682-mile border with the United States follows rivers and lakes, from the Lake of the Woods at the western end to the St. Lawrence River at the eastern end. Which state has the longest border with Ontario?
A. Michigan
B. Minnesota
C. New York
D. Ohio
Q: The vast majority of Ontario’s estimated 16 million people suffering under the smoke cloud live far away from remote wilderness fires. Ontario has Canada’s largest population, but it is less than half of California's 39 million in the most populous state. What is the least populated state?
A. Alaska
B. Delaware
C. Rhode Island
D. Wyoming
Q: As the Earth has warmed, wildfires have become far more common. The toxic smoke from those fires kills nearly 700,000 people worldwide every year, according to a 2021 study. What is the estimated annual death toll for the United States?
A. 12,000
B. 24,000
C. 48,000
D. 96,000
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