* WHAT…The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air
Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index
(AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive
Groups category.
* WHERE…Northeast Minnesota.
* WHEN…Until 4 PM CDT Thursday.
* IMPACTS…Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease
(including asthma), heart disease, and children and older adults, may
experience health effects.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The Camp House and Jenkins Creek fires in the
Superior National Forest of northeast Minnesota remain active and
will continue to produce heavy ground-level smoke through Thursday.
Winds have shifted to southeasterly on Wednesday and will push the
smoke plumes northwest. The smoke plumes will impact portions of St.
Louis, Itasca, and Koochiching counties through Thursday afternoon.
Over the next couple of days, higher humidity and increased cloud
cover should inhibit fire growth and intensity. Smoke is not expected
to be as heavy as previous days. A strong low pressure system will
move into the state on Thursday and bring showers and thunderstorms
to northeast Minnesota by Thursday afternoon. This should decrease
fire activity and improve air quality.