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Western Canada wildfires spread smoke across U.S.

By Amy R. Connolly

WASHINGTON, July 7 (UPI) -- Some of the West and Midwest are under health advisories Tuesday as heavy smoke continues to drift from wildfires in British Columbia.

Smoke from a string of fires in the Pacific Northwest Canadian province has wafted into states that include Washington, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado and Wisconsin. Many states have issued warnings, particularly to those susceptible to poor air quality. The National Weather Service in Seattle said smoke plumes covered a large part of Vancouver Island down the west side of Washington state.

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"The smoke from these fires has risen above 20,000 feet, and the jet stream has been acting like a highway and transporting that smoke all across the country," said Dustin Bonk, a meteorologist for WILX in Lansing, Michigan.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality alert for much of northeast Wisconsin because it has reached "unhealthy levels." Late Monday, Minnesota's pollution control agency expanded its unhealthy air alert across the state. By Tuesday, the threat passed in Minnesota and moved north and east.

The National Weather Service said smoke from Canada has been recorded as far as the U.S. Atlantic Coast, causing brilliant red sunrises and sunsets.

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British Columbia officials said much of the province is under an "extreme" fire rating. More than 800 homes have been evacuated. At least one death has been attributed to the fire conditions.

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