Minnesota faces air quality alert from Canada wildfires [Video]

DULUTH, Minn. — The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an air quality alert for northeast Minnesota as heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts into the region. The alert is in effect from 8 a.m. Thursday, May 29, through 6 p.m. Friday, May 30. 

The affected area includes Two Harbors, Hibbing, Ely, Duluth, and the Tribal Nations of Grand Portage and Fond du Lac.

Smoke from wildfires burning in southeast Manitoba is expected to reach northeastern Minnesota Thursday morning and may linger overnight, especially near the shores of Lake Superior. A second wave of smoke from fires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan will likely to move south into the state on Friday, possibly affecting a larger area.

Fine particle pollution levels are forecast to reach the red air quality index (AQI) category, which is …