Green Bay Reporter

Rep. Tony Wied of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District has written to Canadian Ambassador Kirsten Hillman, urging Canada to take swift action in addressing the ongoing issue of wildfire smoke affecting Northeast Wisconsin and other parts of the state.

"I write to you today on behalf of my constituents who have been dealing with hazardous Canadian wildfire smoke on a regular basis," said Rep. Wied. "With Canada’s lack of active forest management being the main driver of these fires, I implore you to use all the means at your disposal to both prevent and mitigate wildfires in the future."

Last week, Green Bay recorded the worst air quality in the country as smoke from central Canadian wildfires drifted into the area. This marks the third consecutive summer that Northeastern Wisconsin has experienced significant disruptions due to wildfire smoke originating from Canada. Rep. Wied cited what he described as insufficient forest management practices in Canada as a major factor contributing to these recurring fires.

"The United States and Canada have a longstanding congenial relationship, and it is my hope that this issue can be addressed quickly and collaboratively. I look forward to your timely response and hope that you will relay these concerns to rest of your government," Wied added.

Rep. Wied was elected in 2024 after defeating Kristin Lyerly with 57.3% of the vote compared to Lyerly's 42.6%.

A link was provided for readers interested in reading the full letter sent by Rep. Wied.