Fire

I started writing this article on Thursday, July 16, at the end of very long day in a week packed with meetings on zoom, on teams and in my office with colleagues. I was in so many meetings that I barely went outside. When I finally did, the sky was dark and the smell of smoke was almost unbearable.

As it turns out, there was supposed to be sunshine yesterday; it was supposed to be hot and sunny. But the smoke from the 100+ fires burning in Canada and the fires burning in Minnesota were blocking the light. And the smoke was so caustic, it drove many of us indoors. I began to watch the news for how to stay safe; I am a girl with outrageous allergies.

Fires burning in Canada affected air quality in the Midwest and on the East Coast; from Duluth to Norfolk. Yes, the conditions brought on by global warming left dry, thirsty land ready to blaze. We have indeed fouled our nest.

But how did these particular fires start?

Some Canadian wildfires were sparked by lightning, while others were caused by human activity or remain under investigation. Of the 28 new fires reported July 16, Canada classified 15 as human-caused, eight as natural and five as undetermined. Dry vegetation, drought conditions, hot weather and lightning can all contribute to wildfire activity. According to the reports I saw, In British Columbia, fire officials cited drought conditions and forecast lightning activity, while Ontario reported dozens of new wildfires starting, most caused by lightning. Multiple provinces are dealing with active fires at the same time, helping fuel a large national fire season.

Though there about 859 fires burning in Canada, the 2026 wildfire season is no worse than normal. Canada has reported about 3,500 wildfires so far in 2026, a total that is largely in line with recent historical averages. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, Canada’s five-year average is 3,537 fires by this point in the season, compared with 3,484 reported through July 15, 2026. Federal smoke forecasts show wildfire smoke spreading from Canada into the Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, contributing to the smoky skies, poor visibility and air-quality alerts affecting New Jersey this week.

The air is beginning clearing here in New Jersey, but the fires are still burning. What happens in Canada affects us here in the USA.

I’ve got a mixed relationship to fire. I love a fire in the fireplace. The warmth, the dancing orange and blue flames, the smell of wood burning makes me feel safe and secure. I grew up camping, sitting around a campfire singing, telling scary stories and making S’mores are happy memories.

And my church—Middle Collegiate Church—burned down on December 5, 2020. I will never unsee our sacred space engulfed in flames. The vacant corner building on East 7th Street and Second Avenue - were the fire originated - was damaged by a smaller fire back in February 2020. The cause of that fire was ruled accidental. This second fire is believed to have started during an asbestos removal project, with too much power being drawn from one outlet. The fire marshal ruled the second fire an accident; many of our neighbors continue—five years later—continue to speculate about arson. We’ll never know for sure what caused the fire; the building was taken down too soon for a deep investigation. What we do know is the fire burned us out, leaving us placeless and despairing. until Easter of 2025. It cost millions of dollars to repair enough space to host worship and classes in our program building BUT we could not afford to rebuild our sanctuary. No matter how the fire started, it devastated us.

No matter how the fires started in Canada, people are devastated by the fires; property and land, vegetation and wildlife are destroyed by the fires; health and wellbeing are impacted by the fires. People have died in the fires; tens of thousands of people have been evacuated because of the fires. A train evaluating folks near Ontario was overtaken by the fire. First nation communities have been completely decimated by the fires.

Fire can be like a greedy voracious force destroying everything it’s path.

Fire in history (from my brief research)

The origin of fire in human history marks a turning point in our evolution, driven by early hominins shifting from observing and gathering natural flames to actively making and controlling them.

While early ancestors like Homo erectus likely harvested fire from lightning or volcanic activity as early as 1 to 2 million years ago, archaeological discoveries have greatly refined the timeline of intentional fire-making:

• Oldest Controlled Use: Hominins were utilizing controlled hearths in caves, such as the evidence found in Wonderwerk Cave in South Africa, dating back approximately 1.5 million to 1 million years ago.

• Oldest Active Fire-Making: Groundbreaking archaeological excavations in the village of Barnham in Suffolk, UK, uncovered evidence of human-created fire dating back 400,000 years. This discovery featured heat-damaged handaxes and the earliest known fire-starting technology—the combination of striking flint and iron pyrite to create sparks.

Controlling and creating fire provided immense evolutionary advantages. It allowed early humans to ward off predators, stay warm in colder climates, and fundamentally change their diets. Cooking broke down complex proteins, giving our ancestors a caloric surplus that fueled the growth of larger, energy-demanding brains.

Fire fueled our evolution. AND

Humans have learned only too well how to use fire to traumatize, to terrorize, to destroy.

The fires of war not only destroy “military targets;” they also burn hospitals, schools, homes, shelters and temporary dwellings. They burn innocents alive.

The fires of war are a greedy and voracious force destroying what’s in its path.

Just like our air has been affected by the wildfires in Canada, we are all impacted by the fires of war.

What can we do?

Focus on a region. Take Gaza for example.

Actionable responses to the crisis in Gaza fall into two primary categories:

1.) Contributing to direct humanitarian relief efforts and 2.) Participating in political advocacy to influence policy and support long-term peace.

Support Humanitarian Relief. You can provide financial contributions to international aid organizations actively supplying food, clean water, medical care, and temporary shelter to the civilian population in Gaza. Organizations currently operating on the ground include Medical Aid & Health Services: Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF. Food & Emergency Assistance: The World Food Programme and the International Rescue Committee.

Advocate for Policy Changes. Many advocacy groups organize initiatives focused on securing lasting ceasefires, protecting civilian human rights, and enabling full humanitarian access. Ways to engage include Contacting Elected Officials: Urging your congressional representatives to support policies that protect civilians and provide unhindered humanitarian aid. You can look up your local lawmakers via USA.gov.

You can also join community campaigns; participate in organized educational programs or peaceful demonstrations; follow trusted sources so you are informed.

What we can’t do is pretend there are no fires. There are fires burning everywhere. Some are caused naturally. Some we start.

Let’s do something about the fires.