Stefanik tells Canadian leaders to keep the smoke down

WASHINGTON (WCAX) - New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling on Canadian leaders to do more to curb wildfire smoke.

The entire Northeast region has been smothered in wildfire smoke for the past five days, causing air quality alerts across our region. There were more than 700 active wildfires in Canada as of Wednesday morning, according to Canadian officials.

In a letter Wednesday to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney , Stefanik said, “The scale and severity of these fires continues to raise concerns about Canada’s forest mismanagement and lack of effective deterrence of human-caused fire.” The Republican said Canada needs to do more to improve wildfire prevention and response.

Experts say much of the increased wildfire activity in Canada -- and across the West -- has been exac