Air quality alert issued for central, southern MN for wildfire smoke from Canada
The Brief
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for wide swaths of central and southern Minnesota due to wildfire smoke from Canada.
The alert runs through 11 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, putting the air quality index in the orange category – meaning it will be unhealthy for sensitive groups.
(FOX 9) - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for a wide range of central and southern Minnesota due to the continuing wildfires in Canada.
What we know
The MPCA warns that smoke from wildfires in northwest Canada have moved into central and southern Minnesota behind a cold front, while fine particle levels have climbed to unhealthy levels for sensitive groups.
The affected areas include:
Twin Cities metro area
Brainerd
Alexandria
Albert Lea
Marshall
Worthington
Hinckley
St. Cloud
Ortonville
Mankato
Moorhead
Duluth
The Tribal Nations of Upper Sioux, Mille Lacs, Prairie Island, Leech Lake, and Fond du Lac.
What to expect
Minnesotans can expect to see a hazy sky, and smell smoke in the air, MPCA says.
For sensitive groups, like people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, older adults and pregnant people, being outside during the alert could impact their health.
What you can do
The MPCA is urging people to reduce activities that contribute to poor air quality, like fires, reducing vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible.
To keep up to date on current air quality conditions, click here.
The Source
A press release from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).
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