Air Quality Alert Due To Wildfires In Northeast Minnesota

DULUTH, Minn. – The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota due to the wildfires in the area.

Air Quality Alert (May 12 – May 13, 2025)

Air quality is expected to reach the orange AQI category or worse.

Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Ely is in the middle of the Purple zone which is considered to be “Very Unhealthy”.

VERY UNHEALTHY:
People with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teens:

• Avoid physical activities outdoors.

Everyone else:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activities.
• Keep outdoor activities short.
• Consider moving physical activities indoors or rescheduling them.

With issuing the alert, MPCA said,  “A pair of large wildfires – the Camp House fire and the Jenkins Creek fire – have broken out in the Superior National Forest in northeast Minnesota. The fires are located near Brimson, or approximately 25 miles north-northwest of Two Harbors. The fires are uncontained. Another wildfire has also ignited north of Cloquet. Southerly winds will transport smoke northward into northern St. Louis and Lake counties.”

Hibbing is expected to soon be in the Orange zone which means “Unhealthy For Sensitive Groups”.

UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS

Sights and smells: In areas where air quality is in the orange AQI category due to wildfires, the sky may look hazy and residents may smell smoke even when wildfires are far away. 

Health effects: This air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and pollution may aggravate heart and lung disease as well as cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. Symptoms may include chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and fatigue.  

What to do: People in sensitive groups are encouraged to reduce outdoor physical activities, take more breaks, or do less intense activities to reduce their exposure. People with asthma should follow their asthma action plan and keep their rescue inhaler nearby.