Well, it's been the burning forests that have pushed the AQI really high, it's just this air color thing isn't the same as air quality. Weird, I know. It's smelled like a camp fire here for two+ weeks, and on the bad days (and there have been many--or, more accurately, hours--it shifts with wind patterns), it's like you're standing in the smoke plume of a camp fire.
So not to argue with you, but the forest fires have caused the AQI to spike. It's just that this is different. So strange.