07/24/2025
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued a new air quality alert for northwest Minnesota. The alert runs until 11 p.m. on Friday, July 25. The affected area includes East Grand Forks, Roseau, and the Tribal Nations of Red Lake and White Earth. It's possible this heavy smoke may linger across the northern half of the state through Saturday. It is forecasted that the White Earth Nation will experience air quality in the orange and red AQI categories in the following days.
In areas where air quality is in the red AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look smoky. The air will look hazy, and you won’t be able to see long distances. You may smell smoke. This air is unhealthy for everyone. Smoke particles are small enough that they can be breathed deeply into lungs and enter the bloodstream. Anyone may begin to experience symptoms such as irritated eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fatigue. Sensitive or more exposed individuals may experience more serious health effects, including worsening of existing heart or lung disease and respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, possibly leading to an asthma attack, heart attack, or stroke.
Anyone experiencing health effects related to poor air quality should contact their health care provider. Those with severe symptoms, chest pain, trouble breathing, or who fear they may be experiencing a heart attack or stroke should call 911 immediately.
With all the smoke days we have been experiencing, you may want to consider creating a "clean room" in your home, where the air is cleaner and healthier to breathe! Learn more at https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/create-clean-room-protect-indoor-air-quality-during-wildfire. Stay safe out there, and take breaks indoors and hydrate when needed!
