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News release

September 2, 2024

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MPCA Communications, news.mpca@state.mn.us

Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Monday, Sept. 2, through Tuesday, Sept. 3, for central, north central, and northwest Minnesota

Map showing active air quality alert in the red and orange category for north central and northwest Minnesota.

Air quality is expected to reach the red AQI category in north central and northwest Minnesota, which is unhealthy for everyone.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for central, north central, and northwest Minnesota. The alert takes effect 8 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 2, and runs until 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The affected area includes Brainerd, St. Cloud, Bemidji, International Falls, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, and Red Lake.

Smoke from numerous wildfires across the Saskatchewan province in Canada has been pulled into portions of northern and central Minnesota by northerly winds. High pressure will move into the region and will produce very light winds on Monday. This airmass has become stagnant and heavy ground-level smoke will linger across the northern half of the state for the remainder of the day on Monday. Air quality is expected reach the Red (Unhealthy) AQI category across north central Minnesota. Air quality will reach the Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) AQI category for the remainder of the alert area. Winds will become southerly Monday afternoon, and will begin to push the smoke back to the north. Dispersion will improve and smoke levels will gradually decrease beginning in the afternoon. Smoke levels should drop below alert levels by 1 a.m. Tuesday

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across north central and northwest Minnesota. This area includes Bemidji, Roseau, and the tribal nations of Leech Lake and Red Lake. 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. 

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the orange air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, across central, east central, northwest, and north central Minnesota. This area includes Brainerd, St. Cloud, International Falls, and the tribal nations of Mille Lacs, Red Lake, and Leech Lake. In the orange area, sensitive groups should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors.

Air alert wood smoke-red and orange

What this alert means

Air moves long distances and carries pollutants. During air quality alerts due to wildfires, the air is mixed with harmful smoke. Wildfire smoke spreads or lingers depending on the size of the fires, the wind, and the weather.

The air quality index (AQI) is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the AQI is forecast to reach an unhealthy level, which includes forecasts in the orange, red, purple, and maroon categories. For a full description of each air quality category, visit airnow.gov.

Red air quality: Unhealthy

Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke.

Health effects: 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.

What to do: Reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, and avoid intense activities to reduce exposure. Sensitive and more exposed individuals should avoid prolonged or vigorous activities and consider shortening, rescheduling, or moving outdoor events inside.

Orange air quality: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away.

Health effects: This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and fatigue.

What to do: People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.

Who is most at risk

Poor air quality impacts health. 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 that they can 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.

Certain groups experience health effects from unhealthy air quality sooner than others, either because they are more sensitive to fine particle pollution or because they are exposed to larger amounts of it.

Sensitive groups include:

  • 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 with increased exposure include:

  • People of all ages who do longer or more vigorous physical activity outdoors.
    • People who work outdoors, especially workers who do heavy manual labor.
    • People who exercise or play sports outdoors, including children.
  • People who don’t have air conditioning and need to keep windows open to stay cool.
  • People in housing not tight enough to keep unhealthy air out, or who do not have permanent shelter.

Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.

Take precautions

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.

Stay informed

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