WISCONSIN (TND) — Wildfire smoke from Canada has reached the United States and an air quality advisory has been issued for multiple states.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued an air quality advisory in nearly 60 counties and warned the entire state could be impacted by smoke Monday. Some portions of the state may increase to an unhealthy air quality level.
The full advisory from the DNR states:
"The first round of Canadian wildfire smoke of 2024 is currently being observed in Minnesota and far northwest Wisconsin. Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) to Unhealthy PM2.5 AQI will be possible as the smoke plume moves into the state behind a cold front. PM2.5 concentrations are likely to remain elevated through Sunday afternoon and evening across northwest Wisconsin. Smoke will then continue moving from northwest-to-southeast behind the cold front Sunday night into Monday morning and is expected to eventually impact the entire state come Monday. Currently, Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) AQI PM2.5 concentrations are anticipated Monday before transitioning back towards Moderate to Good AQI later Monday into Tuesday. The current Air Quality Advisory will be updated Monday morning after we reassess the situation. Since the air quality index could reach the UNHEALTHY level. People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion; everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion."
In Montana, the Air Quality Index (AQI) has been between 150 and 200 which is considered "unhealthy" and at times has gone above 200 into a "very unhealthy" zone.
"Fine particle levels are expected to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, a level considered unhealthy for everyone, across all of Minnesota," the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency said Monday. "In the red area, sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion and limit time spent outdoors. Everyone should limit prolonged or heavy exertion and time spent outdoors."
An AirNow map shows Montana, the Dakotas and Minnesota being impacted the most by air quality.
The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CCIFC) lists 146 active fires with 39 considered "out of control."
An evacuation order was issued for communities in British Columbia over the weekend.
During a briefing of conditions Sunday, B.C. Wildfire Service official Cliff Chapman urged people to avoid the Fort Nelson area and told residents to leave if they hadn't already "due to the aggressive and extreme" fires.
In July 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke triggered air quality concerns in Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Chicago, Ohio, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina Pennsylvania and New York.
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Editor's note:WLUK contributed to this article.
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