## Wildfire Smoke Blankets Minnesota, Air Quality at Unhealthy Level **This week, Minnesota experiences hazardous air quality conditions due to smoke from wildfires that are burning in Canada. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued a statewide air quality alert, warning residents that the smoke could cause serious health problems. ** The air quality index (AQI) is a measure of how clean or polluted the air is. The AQI uses a scale from 0 to 500, with higher numbers indicating more pollution. An AQI of 100 or below is considered good, while an AQI of 151 to 200 is considered unhealthy.** Currently, the AQI in many parts of Minnesota is in the unhealthy range. The smoke is expected to linger for several days, and the air quality could get worse before it gets better. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends that people take precautions to protect their health during this time. These precautions include: * **Staying indoors as much as possible.** * **Closing windows and doors to keep the smoke out.** * **Running an air purifier.** * **Wearing a mask when going outdoors.** **People with heart or lung conditions should be especially careful during this time. They should avoid strenuous activity and stay indoors as much as possible.** The MPCA is monitoring the air quality and will provide updates as they become available. For more information on the air quality in Minnesota, visit the MPCA website.
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