Wildfire smoke prompt air quality alerts

Proctor area residents woke up to the thick smell of smoke and haze from wildfires in northern Minnesotaand Canada have triggered air quality alerts for a large swath of Minnesota with a particular warning for northeast Minnesota where the air will be hazardous to everyone due to smoke in the air, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

The alert began Tuesday morning and will last through 11 a.m. Friday for many portions of the state, according to the agency.

The MPCA said the alert pertains to an area that covers from Alexandria, to Duluth, and Grand Portage and International Falls.

Air quality impact

The air quality is expected to reach the maroon category in northeast Minnesota, which means it is hazardous for anyone to breathe.

Fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and cause coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Smoke particles are small enough to be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream.

This can lead to illnesses such as bronchitis or aggravate existing chronic heart and lung diseases, triggering heart palpitations, asthma attacks, heart attacks, and strokes, particularly for more sensitive populations.

The air pollution agency gave the following information about the alert:

Hazardous

“The air will seem hazy or smoky and you won’t be able to see long distances. The air will smell strongly of smoke,” according to a statement from the agency.

This air is hazardous to everyone and “most people will have irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Anyone could experience serious heart and lung effects such as asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke,” the agency said.

People in this area should avoid any outdoor activity. Sensitive groups should stay indoors, keep activity levels low and keep indoor air as clean as possible, the agency said.

Very unhealthy

The air is expected to be in the purple air quality category, a level considered very unhealthy for everyone across east central and northeast Minnesota, which includes Proctor, Hinckley, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs and Fond du Lac.

The sky will look smoky and the air will seem hazy or smoky and you won’t be able to see long distances. The air will smell strongly of smoke.

This air is very unhealthy for everyone. Anyone could experience serious heart and lung effects such as asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke. Everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and stay indoors.

Unhealthy

The air is expected to be in the red air quality category, considered unhealthy for everyone across east central, central, west central, southeast, north central, and northwest Minnesota.

This area includes the Twin Cities metro area, Brainerd, Alexandria, St. Cloud, Winona, Moorhead, and International Falls. In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

The sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke.

This air is unhealthy for everyone. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath. Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.

On Tuesday, the high temperatures combined with air pollution will exacerbate health impacts. The heavy smoke will travel south Tuesday night into Wednesday morning and move across northern and central Minnesota.

“The onset of smoke will be rapid.”

Additional rounds of heavy smoke are possible from Thursday through Friday morning across the alert area.”

For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.

Who it may impact the most

Some people are more sensitive to the particles including the following:

• People who have asthma or other breathing conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• People who have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
• Pregnant people.
• Children and older adults.
• People who do vigorous physical activity outdoors or work outdoors.
• Those without air conditioning who keep windows open to stay cool.
• People in housing that doesn’t keep unhealthy air out or those who don’t have a permanent shelter.
• Anyone with symptoms such as chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.

Currently air quality conditions can be found at the MPCA Air Quality Index Page: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/current-air-quality-conditions