Minnesota Wildfire Smoke: How To Keep Your Home Safe This Week
It has been an incredibly smoky week across the Northland. Wildfires burning in northern Minnesota have brought dangerous conditions to our region, with smoke expected to continue even into the weekend.
Air quality alerts remain in effect at the time of writing. In fact, on Thursday morning (July 16th), the Air Quality Index was over 900 for our neck of the woods, which just so happens to be triple the threshold for hazardous conditions. Wow.
Due to dangerously smoky conditions, there have also been a bunch of event cancellations. Other area events have pivoted and decided to shift things indoors.
It has been very smoky in the Duluth area over the past few years but this is the worst that I have experienced in my nearly ten years living here.
When things get as bad as they are right now, we obviously have to make a few lifestyle changes. We can't go home and lay on the back porch or leave our windows open to get some fresh air.
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Instead, we have to temporarily change the way we do things. That means we may be a little bit uncomfortable for a bit but it is what we have to do to stay safe in these conditions.
Some things are obvious when it comes to what you should and shouldn't do when there's wildfire smoke outdoors. Like I said, you obviously shouldn't even leave your window open a crack and let smoke into your home.
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Other things are not as obvious. There are many things I learned while brushing up on the EPA's recommendations for ways to reduce smoke indoors during times like this. It's the perfect time to read these recommendations and make moves accordingly.
Sta safe out there.
Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Smoke
Gallery Credit: Lauren Wells