TWIN CITIES, Minn. (AP / NWN) — Heavy smoke from several large wildfires blazing in Canada and Minnesota is expected to engulf large swaths of the Midwest and Northeast U.S. this week, exposing millions of people to dangerous air pollution.
Minnesota officials issued an air quality alert from Tuesday through Friday for areas including the Twin Cities metro area, Alexandria and Two Harbors, with very heavy smoke expected across the Arrowhead as large wildfires continued to spread.
Wisconsin DNR Air quality alerts say the air is rated “Very Unhealthy” for Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer and Washburn counties through Thursday morning. The air rating is “Unhealthy” for Barron, Chippewa, Dunn, Polk, Rusk and St. Croix counties, through Thursday morning.
A widespread air quality alert is in effect for all of Wisconsin, advising the air quality is “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”