(NewsNation) — The Canadian wildfire season this year has already been called the second worst on record.

It has triggered air quality alerts, with parts of the Great Lakes still in the moderate to unhealthy category as of Sunday morning. The smoke can pose health risks from long-term exposure.

The heat dome has continued to expand, bringing more heat up north than in the past. In turn, it pushes the jet stream further up north as well, which is made up of fast-moving winds in the upper atmosphere that flow around the outer edge of the air mass.

The jet stream also steers storm systems, meaning lightning strikes are occurring further north into Canada, igniting the fires that quickly spread across the drought-stricken landscape. With the majority of the country’s population living along the U.S. border, these fires are now raging in remote parts. They are practically inaccessible to firefighting efforts.

There are roughly 500 fires across Canada that officials say are burning out of control, scorching 28,000 square miles so far this year. That’s nearly 80% more than average, with 2023’s fires burning 66,000 square miles charred.

More fires mean more smoke. Any time we have a flow out of the north or northwest, it brings us heat relief during the summer but it now also comes with the potential for wildfire smoke to impact our air quality. It doesn’t necessarily smell like a campfire burning because as the smoke is carried across thousands of miles, sunlight breaks down the compounds, leaving behind toxic substances like benzene and formaldehyde.

The American Lung Association has warned of long-lasting impacts from this, saying the particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, and can even enter the bloodstream. The organization added particle pollution triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, and can kill.

For your safety, it’s recommended to stay inside as much as possible with air conditioning on when air quality alerts are issued for your area. You should also wear an N95 mask to block the particles when outside. Changing your car’s carbon filter and using an air purifier are also smart ways to make a difference in protecting yourself.