Wildfires prompt state of emergency, air quality alert in Minnesota
At least 17 fires are burning across the region.
A northern Minnesota county declared a state of emergency and an air quality alert was issued on Tuesday due to wildfires raging across northern Minnesota and Canada.
St. Louis County in northeast Minnesota issued a State of Local Emergency and a State of Local Disaster due to wildfire damage and the utilization of public resources needed.
The U.S. Forest Service reported at least 17 wildfires burning across St. Louis and Lake Counties, including three in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert across much of the state due to wildfire smoke from 9 a.m. on Tuesday through 11 a.m. Friday.
The agency expected air quality to reach the hazardous category in the northeast corner of the state. It advised anyone in the hazardous region to avoid all outdoor activity and remain indoors.
The fires have burned through at least 33,000 acres as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Firefighters and first responders evacuated visitors and nearby residents as the fires burned across the region.
The smoke has also spread into Michigan. Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy issued an air quality alert for Wednesday and Thursday across the state.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer urged Michiganders to limit time spent outdoors, especially seniors, children and anyone with respiratory conditions.
St. Louis County said it set up temporary evacuation points at a municipal center to serve people from St. Louis and Lake Counties impacted by the fires. It said public health staff is at the evacuation points to connect people with necessary resources.
The U.S. Forest Service reported Tuesday that two fires in Canada had crossed the international border into the U.S. It said it is coordinating with Canadian authorities to prevent the fire.
The Cook County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday night that the Forest Service expected the fire to cross the Canadian border into that county at Monument Portage.
"With the wind direction change, we are receiving a large amount of smoke and ash from this fire along with a number of other fires in Canada," the sheriff said. "This is expected from such large fires."
Authorities are continuing their response efforts as the fires spread.
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