Thousands of visitors were told to evacuate a remote Minnesota wilderness area accessible only by boat as wildfires send dangerously heavy smoke over the U.S. Midwest and Northeast this week.
Wildfires Cause Evacuations
More than 100 wildfires are burning in Canada, with winds carrying the smoke southeast into the United States. The National Weather Service warned of unhealthy air conditions from Minnesota through Toronto and into New York.
Rangers in Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness were working to evacuate an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 people from the 1.1-million-acre wilderness. No injuries or deaths have been reported, with rangers having evacuated about 90% of the people by Wednesday.
Health Concerns
Experts warn that the heavy smoke and extreme heat pose significant health risks, particularly for sensitive groups such as children and people with heart or lung conditions. The best advice is to stay indoors to avoid both the smoke and the heat, according to Tyler Hasenstein, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
Residents are advised to wear N95 masks if they must be outside and to keep their indoor air cleaner by closing windows and running air purifiers or air conditioners.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
