The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for all of Minnesota from Friday, July 11 through 9 a.m. Monday, July 14.  

To reduce additional air pollutants, burning permits will not be issued or activated in any county with an air quality alert. Campfires are discouraged.

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

Heavy, ground-level smoke from Canadian wildfires has moved into northern Minnesota behind a cold front. Air quality will worsen Friday evening and be widespread across the state by Saturday afternoon. While smoke may clear by Sunday as cleaner air moves in from the west, another round of smoke is possible across northern Minnesota Sunday evening. 

The northern half of Minnesota is expected to reach the purple air quality index (AQI) category considered very unhealthy for everyone. Central and parts of southern Minnesota will reach the red AQI category, considered unhealthy for everyone, and southern Minnesota will reach the orange AQI, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. 

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

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