Weeks of wildfire smoke drifting into Michigan from Canada may have done more than create hazy skies and unhealthy air. How Wildfire Smoke Cost Michigan BillionsWhen air quality becomes dangerous, people are told to stay inside, outdoor events are postponed, and businesses can lose customers. That happened repeatedly across Michigan as thick smoke triggered several air quality alerts and forced communities to make last-minute changes. The group estimates wildfire smoke cost New York around $5 billion, while Wisconsin lost about $2 billion. Anderson said the prolonged stretch of poor air quality was unlike anything he could remember seeing in Michigan.