Six Flags Great America and its adjacent water park, Hurricane Harbor Chicago, closed Friday due to unhealthy air quality conditions in the Chicago area, a direct consequence of smoke drifting south from devastating wildfires in Canada. Park officials announced the closure on the company's website, stating that the decision was made in accordance with guidance from weather and safety experts. The park indicated it expected to reopen Saturday, pending an improvement in air quality.
An air quality alert remained in effect for the Chicago area through Saturday night, as smoke from fires burning in northern Ontario continued to spread across the region. On Friday morning, Chicago's Air Quality Index reached the "hazardous" category before improving to "unhealthy" later in the day, a level at which some members of the general public may experience health effects. On Thursday, Chicago was reported to have the worst air quality of any major city globally.
The smoke plume has affected a wide swath of the United States, impacting the Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions, exposing an estimated 100 million people to unhealthy air. New York City also experienced adverse air quality on Friday, with the city waking up under "unhealthy" skies. Health alerts were issued, and IQAir ranked New York fourth among major global cities for the worst air quality. Health officials advised residents, particularly those with respiratory issues, to remain indoors as much as possible and to limit strenuous outdoor activities.
In response to the widespread air quality issues, President Trump on Friday suggested imposing new tariffs on Canada, asserting that the country was not adequately managing its forests. "We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein," Trump stated on Truth Social. "The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" He added that he intended to speak with the Prime Minister to discuss the situation and its significant costs.
As of Thursday, Canada was contending with 859 active wildfires, with 113 of those fires classified as out of control, according to the Canadian government.