Residents in Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin woke up to smoky skies on Monday morning, as wildfire smoke from Canada drifted southward, prompting air quality alerts in the region.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for the entire state, warning that fine particle levels were expected to reach unhealthy levels for everyone. Similarly, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued an alert for northwestern Wisconsin, cautioning residents to limit outdoor activities.
The smoke originated from multiple wildfires burning in Canada, including the Parker Lake wildfire in British Columbia, which spread rapidly over the weekend. Evacuation orders were issued for thousands of people in Fort Nelson, as firefighters battled the blaze amidst challenging weather conditions.
Officials emphasized the importance of staying indoors and avoiding strenuous activities, as the air quality remained poor in the affected areas. The situation serves as a reminder of the far-reaching impacts of wildfires and the need for continued vigilance in fire-prone regions.
