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Air quality alert issued due to wildfire smoke for Friday, July 11, for northwest and north central Minnesota
Air quality is expected to reach the purple AQI category in northwest Minnesota, which is very unhealthy for everyone
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northwest and north central Minnesota. The alert takes effect 6 a.m. on Friday, July 11, and runs until 6 p.m. on Friday, July 11. The affected area includes Brainerd, Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, International Falls, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, and Red Lake.
Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in central Canada will move into northwest Minnesota early Friday morning behind a cold front. The first band of smoke will quickly move across northern Minnesota during the day Friday and reach northeast Minnesota by the evening. A second round of smoke will reach northwest Minnesota Friday evening. This round of smoke will be more widespread and may impact the northern half of the state on Saturday. The alert may need to be extended to cover the second round of smoke. Cleaner air will move into the state from the west on Sunday and air quality should improve beginning Sunday afternoon.
Fine particle levels are expected to reach the purple air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered very unhealthy for everyone, across northwest Minnesota. This area includes Bemidji, East Grand Forks, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth. In the purple area, everyone should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and stay indoors. Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across northwest and north central Minnesota. This area includes Brainerd, Moorhead, International Falls, and the Tribal Nations of Mille Lacs, Leech Lake, White Earth, 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.
MDH sends these air quality alert messages only once a day, unless the air quality worsens.
Air quality can change quickly, so be sure to check current air quality conditions.
Sign up for air quality notifications
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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.
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Purple air quality: Very unhealthy
Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the purple AQI category due to wildfires, the sky will look smoky. The air will seem hazy or smoky and you won’t be able to see long distances. The air will smell strongly of smoke.
Health effects: This air is very unhealthy for everyone. Anyone could experience serious heart and lung effects such as asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.
What to do: Avoid prolonged or vigorous outdoor activity. Consider rescheduling sports and other outdoor events or moving them inside. Sensitive individuals should avoid all outdoor physical activity.
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.
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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. Keep windows closed to ensure outside smoke does not enter your home.
Additional resources
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Minnesota Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child Care - This MDH guidance can help school and child care staff determine when and how to adjust outdoor physical activities when air quality starts to reach unhealthy levels. Air pollution affects everyone, but children and youth are particularly vulnerable.
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Extreme heat and air quality alerts can happen at the same time. Learn how to stay safe and prevent heat-related illnesses at mn.gov/heat.
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