Due to wildfire smoke from the Northeast Territories in Canada, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued a statewide air quality alert beginning early this morning and ending Friday at 11 p.m. This alert may be extended locally if conditions do not improve.

To reduce additional air pollutants, burning permits will not be issued or activated during Air Quality Alerts and campfires are highly discouraged. 

For up-to-date information on fire danger and burning restrictions visit: www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions.

The air quality index (AQI) is expected to reach red (unhealthy for everyone) in the Twin Cities and up throughout north central and northeast Minnesota. Western and southern Minnesota are expected to reach an orange AQI (unhealthy for sensitive groups). 

For more information on the air quality alert, sensitive groups, and health effects visit the MPCA current air quality webpage.