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By Dana Kazel
With air quality conditions continuing to fluctuate due to wildfire smoke, St. Louis County Public Health is working to educate the community and provide resources to those most at risk to suffer health effects. While air quality has been relatively good the last couple days, the wildfires continue to burn, which could impact air quality for weeks or even months to come, so now is a good time to prepare.
Public Health staff have worked with community partners to compile a list of indoor locations with good air quality that are open to the public. That information has been shared on social media and is listed on the county's website as well. The direct link is: Air Quality. The list includes locations in both the northern and southern parts of the county, as well as the addresses and hours of operation.
This web page also provides information about current air quality conditions, as well as information on why wildfire smoke is dangerous and the health impacts it can cause, who is most at risk, and tips for minimizing exposure.
Public Health staff are distributing available N-95 and KN-95 masks to local organizations that serve populations most at risk, and are working to attain more masks for future distribution.
"It's important for people to recognize that we could be dealing with air quality impacts for a long time to come," said Amy Westbrook, St. Louis County Public Health Division Director. "These impacts could likely vary from day to day, and even hour by hour; and may also vary depending based on location across our large county. So we are working to ensure people have accurate information – and resources when possible – to protect themselves and their families."
Wildfires triggered by lightning strikes earlier this month continue to burn in multiple locations across northern St. Louis County. The St. Louis County Sheriff's Office is assisting the U.S. Forest Service, MN Department of Natural Resources and numerous local fire departments in responding to these fires, and has activated the Ready, Set, Go evacuation map to provide guidance for people located near the fires.
Links to the evacuations map, as well as air quality information, can all be accessed at stlouiscountymn.gov/emergencies.
