Why Canada's Forest Fires Are So Difficult to Fight

Augustin Guibaud, PhD, fire expert in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, explains why Canada's forest fires present a unique challenge for experts and first responders—and how forest management can help prevent them in a world marked by climate change. Then, Rebecca Florsheim, MD, MPH, environmental health physician at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, discusses the health impacts of wildfire smoke and poor air pollution.

Photo: NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES - JULY 16: Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada engulfed the New York City skyline, reducing visibility and casting an orange haze over the New York City, United States on July 16, 2026. The smoky conditions reduced visibility across the skyline, while authorities continued monitoring air quality as the wildfire smoke spread across the northeastern United States. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)