MAINE, USA — Wildfire smoke has been in the headlines constantly the past few summers. And some of you have asked: have we seen more wildfire smoke in Maine in recent years?

The short answer is yes, and the reason? Climate change.

According to Michael Waddington from McMaster University, climate change is intensifying the hot and dry conditions that are ideal for wildfires, and 2025 is on track to be the second worst Canadian fire season on record behind 2023.

Canadian fire activity, which is where most of the smoke in Maine comes from, has increased dramatically starting in 2005, which coincided with a drier trend after a much wetter 1990s.

Moisture deficits increased due to rapid warming and increased evaporative demand. These decreases in moisture altered fire fuels and made them mo

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