The last 7-10 days has seen much improved air quality in Windom and even northern Minnesota as smoke from the wildfires in Canada has dissipated.
The air quality for the whole state was rated as good on Friday by the state pollution control agency, but in past days and weeks much of the state, and especially north of Alexandria, has rated poor or unhealthy, with too much particulate from the smoke in the air.
Some local residents have found dustings of ash on yard furniture, deck umbrellas and outdoor tables.
At week’s end, there were still close to 900 active fires burning in Canada, with over 550 fires rated as out of control. This is according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center (CIFFC) and they report 131 fires being held and 203 being under control.
For more details on this story, please see the July 26 edition of the Citizen.
