Full Notification

* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particle pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Orange or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category.

* WHERE...central Minnesota.

* WHEN...From 6 PM CDT Wednesday through 6 AM CDT Thursday.

* IMPACTS...Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, may experience health effects.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Wildfire smoke from Ontario will move into central Minnesota Wednesday afternoon. The concentrations of fine particle pollution from the wildfire smoke will be sufficient to reduce air quality to the Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) category.

* AFFECTED AREAS: DOUGLAS ... TODD ... MORRISON ... MILLE LACS ... KANABEC ... BIG STONE ... STEVENS ... POPE ... STEARNS ... BENTON ... SHERBURNE ... ISANTI ... CHISAGO ... LAC QUI PARLE ... SWIFT ... CHIPPEWA ... KANDIYOHI ... MEEKER ... WRIGHT ... HENNEPIN ... ANOKA ... RAMSEY ... WASHINGTON ... YELLOW MEDICINE ... RENVILLE ... MCLEOD ... SIBLEY ... CARVER ... SCOTT ... DAKOTA ... LINCOLN ... LYON ... REDWOOD ... BROWN ... NICOLLET ... LE SUEUR ... RICE ... GOODHUE ... WABASHA ... MURRAY ... COTTONWOOD ... WATONWAN ... BLUE EARTH ... WASECA ... STEELE ... DODGE ... OLMSTED ... WINONA ... NOBLES ... JACKSON ... MARTIN ... FARIBAULT ... FREEBORN ... MOWER ... FILLMORE ... HOUSTON ... PIPESTONE ... ROCK ... POPE

Instructions:

Sensitive groups, such as people with lung disease (including asthma), heart disease, children and older adults, and people who are active outdoors, should limit prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion. Reduce or eliminate activities that contribute to air pollution, such as outdoor burning, and use of residential wood burning devices. Reduce vehicle trips and vehicle idling as much as possible. Keep windows closed overnight to prevent smoke from getting indoors.