Severe Wildfires in Canada Trigger Longest Air Quality Alert in Minnesota History

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

Severe wildfires in Canada led to Minnesota’s longest air quality alert on record since the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency began issuing alerts in 2008. The alert lasted seven days, from July 29 to August 4, surpassing the previous record of five days set in 2021.

During the alert, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources suspended all burning permits and advised residents to avoid campfires to limit additional air pollution.

Canada is experiencing its second most severe fire season on record, with more than 16 million acres burned, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC).

Nearly 4,000 wildfires have occurred this year, mostly in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. More than 470 fires remain “out of control,” according to the CIFFC. Many are in remote areas, with firefighting efforts focused on protecting populated regions. Over 1,300 firefighters from several countries, including more than 600 from the United States, are assisting in the response.

Poor Air Quality

An increase in wildfires has contributed to more smoky summers in Minnesota. Fluctuations in the Air Quality Index (AQI) have led some residents to stay indoors. Poor air quality can affect everyone, but it poses the greatest risk to people with preexisting health or respiratory conditions.

Scientists note that there is no completely “safe” AQI level, as the index does not measure all harmful pollutants. Generally, below 50 is considered acceptable, while higher values indicate more harmful air pollution. Breathing wildfire smoke at an AQI of 200 for 24 hours can be roughly equivalent to smoking up to 10 cigarettes...

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