Wildfire smoke wrecks air quality in places across the U.S.

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - Wildfire smoke is wrecking air quality in places across the U.S. amid a one-two punch of fires in the West and in Canada, which has sent smoke pouring across large sections of the country

On Tuesday, millions of people were under air quality alerts in 11 states in the midwest and northeast due to smoke from Canadian wildfires.

Air quality has also taken a hit from smoke in the western U.S., especially Southern California, where crews are fighting the state's biggest blaze of the year.

The Gifford Fire started Friday. It's burned nearly 84,000 acres and was only 9% contained, as of Tuesday evening.

The fast-moving blaze prompted evacuation orders that were in effect Tuesday for parts of two counties.

Elsewhere in Southern California, the Rosa Fire in Riverside County prompted evacuations and sent plumes of smoke into the sky, leaving behind a strong haze.

As of Wednesday, the fire had burned more than 1,600 acres and was just 18% contained.

To keep up-to-date on the Gifford Fire, click here. To keep up-to-date on the Rosa Fire, click here.