Minneapolis: Smoke emanating from the raging wildfires in Canada has now reached the US state of Minnesota and parts of Wisconsin, leading authorities to issue air quality alerts as of Monday (May 13) morning. With over 100 active wildfires blazing across Canada, nearly 40 of them categorized as “out of control”, as per ABC News reports.
Air Quality Alerts Across the US The smoke, as reported by American media outlets, has drifted into the US states of Montana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota since Sunday (May 12).
Minnesota experienced severe conditions, prompting the state’s Pollution Control Agency to issue a statewide alert on Sunday, initially scheduled to conclude by Monday afternoon (local time). However, due to the persisting threat, the alert was extended until 11:00 pm (local time).
In the northern parts of Minnesota, the Air Quality Index (AQI) soared between 150-200, classified as “unhealthy”. Overnight, Bemidji, a city in northern Minnesota, recorded an AQI of 212, with residents reporting a strong smell of smoke permeating the air.
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In neighboring Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources issued an air quality alert for the northwestern region, effective Monday morning at 10:00 am (local time) until Tuesday (May 15) at midnight. The forecasted AQI for numerous counties ranged between 101 and 150, categorized as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”
It’s anticipated that the smoke will continue its drift, reaching Omaha, Nebraska, by Monday evening.
Canadian Wildfire Scenario Across the border in Canada, the nation is grappling with the season’s initial major wildfires, spreading over approximately 24,710 acres across Western Canada as of Sunday.
Over the weekend, Canadian firefighters battled several wildfires, with at least 37 of the 141 active fires labeled as “out of control,” according to ABC News.
In British Columbia, thousands of residents from the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality and Fort Nelson First Nations were forced to evacuate due to the encroaching flames.
