...AIR QUALITY ALERT NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. * WHERE...Northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 4 PM CDT Thursday. * IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may experience health effects. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires in the Superior National Forest of northeast Minnesota remain active and will continue to produce heavy ground-level smoke through Thursday. Winds have shifted to southeasterly on Wednesday and will push the smoke plumes northwest. The smoke plumes will impact portions of St. Louis, Itasca, and Koochiching counties through Thursday afternoon. Over the next couple of days, higher humidity and increased cloud cover should inhibit fire growth and intensity. Smoke is not expected to be as heavy as previous days. A strong low pressure system will move into the state on Thursday and bring showers and thunderstorms to northeast Minnesota by Thursday afternoon. This should decrease fire activity and improve air quality. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, should limit prolonged or heavy exertion. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors. && For information on current air quality conditions in your area and to sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications by email, text message, phone, or the EPA AirNow mobile app, visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air- quality-conditions. You can find additional information about health and air quality at https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land- climate/air-quality-and-health.
