'Our Health Is At Risk': MN, WI Republicans Demand Canada Stop Sending Smoke

MINNESOTA — Four Republican lawmakers from Minnesota and two from Wisconsin are demanding answers from Canada over their wildfire smoke that’s once again blanketing the region this summer.

In a letter to Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, the lawmakers said their constituents are tired of "suffocating Canadian wildfire smoke" ruining the start of summer, and they want to know what’s being done about it.

"As we are entering the height of the fire season, we would like to know how your government plans on mitigating wildfire and the smoke that makes its way south," they wrote in the July 7 letter.

The letter was signed by Minnesota Reps. Tom Emmer, Michelle Fischbach, Brad Finstad, and Pete Stauber, along with Wisconsin Reps. Tom Tiffany and Glenn Grothman.

The lawmakers blamed recurring smoke events on “a lack of active forest management” and even pointed to “arson” as one cause of recent Canadian wildfires.

“With all the technology that we have at our disposal, both in preventing and fighting wildfires, this worrisome trend can be reversed if proper action is taken,” they wrote.

The group said the smoke has made it hard for Minnesotans to enjoy the best months of the year: “Our constituents have been limited in their ability to go outside and safely breathe due to the dangerous air quality,” they wrote. “Summer months are the best time of the year to spend time outdoors… but this wildfire smoke makes it difficult to do all those things.”

The letter asks Hillman to forward their concerns to Natural Resources Canada and the Canadian Forest Service.

"Minnesota is under another air quality alert this weekend due to smoke from Canadian wildfires," wrote Stauber in a separate statement on social media. "Our health is at risk. Canada must take stronger action to manage its forests. Enough is enough."