Four Republican members of Congress from Michigan are pressing the Canadian government to take stronger action against the wildfires that have sent heavy smoke into the United States this summer. In a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the lawmakers argued that years of inadequate forest management have contributed to worsening wildfire seasons that are affecting millions of Americans across the Midwest and Northeast.

The lawmakers said this is the third straight year they have urged Canada to improve efforts such as forest thinning, fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and arson enforcement. They claimed previous promises to address the problem have not produced meaningful results and called on the Canadian government to explain what specific measures have been taken since last year to reduce wildfire risks.

The letter comes after smoke from Canadian wildfires led to hazardous air quality across parts of the United States, with cities including Detroit and Minneapolis ranking among the worst in the world for air pollution on some days. While the lawmakers demanded greater accountability, U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra emphasized continued cooperation between the two countries in responding to the fires.

There is a growing cross-border problem that neither country seems able to solve on its own. Wildfire smoke does not stop at international borders, and once large fires are burning, communities hundreds or even thousands of miles away can experience unhealthy air for days.

This has increasingly become a common summer problem across the Midwest and Northeast, where poor air quality has led to health advisories, school activity changes, canceled outdoor events, and increased health risks for people with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions.

While the United States and Canada routinely cooperate on border security, trade, and emergency response, some lawmakers are arguing that Canada should be doing more to reduce wildfire risks long before they become an international problem. If pressure from Congress continues to grow, wildfire prevention and forest management could become a more prominent issue in future U.S.-Canada discussions, alongside trade and border security.

For residents of the Midwest or Northeast, Canada’s wildfire season is beginning to become a predictable seasonal aspect, even if the nearest fire is hundreds of miles away. Thick smoke can trigger air quality alerts that limit outdoor work, youth sports, hiking, and other activities. People with asthma, COPD, or heart conditions may need to stay indoors more often, while healthy adults can still experience irritated eyes, coughing, or shortness of breath during periods of heavy smoke.

Smoke from the wildfires can also have economic consequences, as outdoor festivals, sporting events, construction projects, and other businesses that depend on outdoor operations often face delays or lower attendance when air quality deteriorates. If Canada expands forest management efforts and reduces the number or intensity of major wildfires, communities across the northern United States could experience fewer smoke-filled days and fewer disruptions during the peak summer season.

Certain members of Congress seem to be thinking along those lines as well, and it’s likely they will put pressure on our northern neighbors in the future.