Wildfires are spreading in the western Canadian province of British Columbia on Friday, even as hundreds of fires continued to burn on the other side of the country in Quebec. Wildfire smoke continues to blow over North American cities. 

Around 2,500 people were told to evacuate the community of Tumbler Ridge in northeastern British Columbia on Thursday afternoon, Reuters reported. Residents at Donnie Creek in the Peace River region were also ordered to evacuate. In British Columbia, temperatures rose by 10 degrees of the seasonal average and reached over 30 degrees Celsius. 

Even as firefighters made progress in containing some of the massive blazes in Quebec, wildfire smoke continued to affect millions across eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Poor air quality is expected to continue in Ottawa, Toronto, New York and Washington until Sunday when the wind direction is expected to shift.

While rain is expected over the weekend, there is a chance of lightning, which could spark more fires. Wildfire smoke is reportedly reaching Europe. 

According to a CNN report, as per forecast, air quality over much of the eastern US is set to slowly improve this weekend, schools in some metro areas will continue remote learning on Friday. 
 

“Smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to be transported south by winds into the U.S. resulting in moderate to unhealthy air quality across parts of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Valley, and Midwest on Friday. Some improvement is expected this weekend,” the National Weather Service said.