Wildfire smoke prompts air quality alert for July 11 in central Minnesota

Today at 4:34 PM

BRAINERD 鈥� The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert Friday, July 11, for northwest and north central Minnesota.

The alert takes effect 6 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. Friday.

Heavy ground-level smoke from wildfires in central Canada will move into northwest Minnesota early Friday morning behind a cold front, the MPCA reported in a news release Thursday.

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 Saturday.

鈥淭he alert may need to be extended to cover the second round of smoke,鈥� the MPCA reported. 鈥淐leaner air will move into the state from the west on Sunday and air quality should improve beginning Sunday afternoon.鈥�

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the purple air quality index 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, the MPCA advised.

Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index 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, Red Lake, Aitkin, Cass and Wadena counties. 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 MPCA advised.

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 is color-coded. Air quality alerts are issued when the index 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

Purple air quality: Very unhealthy

Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the purple air quality index category due to wildfires, the sky will look smoky. The air will seem hazy or smoky and you won鈥檛 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 air quality index category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won鈥檛 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.

Who鈥檚 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.
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鈥檛 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

Visit MPCA鈥檚 for information on current air quality conditions in your area.
Sign up for daily air quality forecasts and alert notifications though .
Download the EPA AirNow mobile app from the or the .
Visit the MPCA鈥檚 for information about health and indoor and outdoor air quality and .
Visit the for actions you can take to protect your health against wildfire smoke.