Air quality alert in effect across Minnesota, including the Twin Cities, as wildfires continue

Local and federal authorities have enhanced burning restrictions in Minnesota, while an air quality alert took effect Sunday as smoke from wildfires spread from northern Minnesota to the state’s southern border.

Wildfires, which began after a July 6 thunderstorm caused more than 1,000 lightning strikes across northeastern Minnesota and Canada, have now burned just under 68,956 acres, according to updated infrared mapping, with an additional 6,000 acres burned by the Little Knife fire after it crossed into the United States.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert from 9 a.m. Sunday through 11 a.m. Monday for large sections of the state, including the Twin Cities, Duluth, Ely, Rochester and Mankato, warning that fine particle pollution from wildfire smoke is expected to reach the red, which is considered unhealthy for everyone, Air Quality Index category.

While some improvement in air quality is possible Sunday afternoon, “additional heavy smoke is forecast to move in from the south this evening and persist through Monday morning,” the agency said in a release.

“While some of the fires were contained, several have continued to grow due to record-breaking high temperatures and low humidity,” the incident management team news release said. “Additional firefighters, equipment and support staff continue to be ordered including a Complex Incident Management Team.”

Federal officials also said the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness closure remains in effect, with permit issuance and forest closures now being evaluated daily as firefighters continue battling the blazes. Officials have warned some of the fires could smolder until snow falls.

The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release that dry weather is expected to return this weekend and beyond, so crews are expecting fires to grow as the woods dry out and winds increase.

Beginning Monday at 12:01 p.m., the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will activate Class IV burning restrictions across Cook, Koochiching, Lake and northern St. Louis counties, along with George Washington State Forest and Scenic State Park. Campfires and recreational fires will be prohibited, prescribed burning on private lands will be banned and only propane or gas camp stoves may be used in the backcountry.

Emergency crews asked residents to help by following evacuation orders, refraining from flying drones and keeping boats off the water where fire crews are working.

The areas under “GO” orders to evacuate now include:

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office advised residents under a “GO” order to account for all members of the household, close all windows, leave exterior lights on for firefighters, and take a pre-planned evacuation route.

Other residents under a “SET” order, which asks they prepare for evacuation by collecting valuables and moving flammable items to the center of their home, now include:

Northern parts of Schroeder, Tofte, Lutsen, the northside of Burntside Lake, and the city of Winton have now moved into “READY” status, asking that they prepare for a possible evacuation.

As those evacuation orders expand, officials predict air quality Sunday will worsen conditions for people in Ely, Duluth and Marquette, Mich., in the Upper Peninsula. Marquette’s air quality was reportedly “very unhealthy” Saturday and is expected to downgrade to “unhealthy” by tomorrow.

Volunteers and emergency crews from across the nation have traveled to Minnesota to fight the blazes, which have already set records for their impact on nearby forests and air quality.

Despite nearly 30 years of work around the BWCA, Big Lake Wilderness Lodge owner Chuck Huber said he’s has never seen fires like these.

“From what I’ve heard, the fire is a half mile to three-quarters of a mile from getting to the Echo Trail,” Huber said Saturday. “We got all our guests out safe, and it’s scary.”

Huber said guests booked all 16 cabins on the property before they were asked to evacuate, and the lost revenue comes at a crucial time for nearby outfitters and business owners to earn money.

Some people took extra measures to protect property from the fires, such as members of a YMCA camp in Ely who sank 19 prized canoes into a lake for protection.

Lodge of Whispering Pines owner Echo Trail Outfitters co-owner Daniel Houle, who also owns Echo Trail Outfitters, said he and emergency crews are clearing brushes, cutting swaths of nearby woods, and showering the lodge and area with water everyday to keep it safe.

Houle explained that 2026 marks 100 years since the historic lodge was built, and he wants to save it for future generations. So as 70 customers and a handful of staff evacuated, Houle, lodge general manager and Echo Trail Outfitters co-owner Denise Myers, and 19-year-old staffer Aaron Nunez have taken trips back to the lodge to help emergency crews safeguard the lodge.

“It’s that place. It’s where people learn to paddle. Where kids learn to navigate the wilderness, it’s where grandmothers and grandfathers bring their kids to show them the boundary waters,” Houle said.

“Tell everybody to say a prayer, we’re trying to save this for the next generation.”

The wildfires began after a July 6 thunderstorm caused more than 1,000 lightning strikes across northeastern Minnesota and southern Canada, federal officials said in Saturday’s statement.

It’s unclear when firefighters could gain control of the wildfires, but experts say dry heat waves helped create flames that could smolder until snow falls.