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With air so smoky you 'taste it,' Ely residents seek relief

With air so smoky you 'taste it,' Ely residents seek relief

With a thick blanket of smoke over much of northern Minnesota right now as fires rage along the Canadian border, Ely set a record for its worst air quality reading ever on Thursday. Residents are on the hunt for masks and air purifiers, and some are having trouble finding them.
by Estelle Timar-Wilcox

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Wildfire smoke disrupts outdoor parties, concerts across Twin Cities

Wildfire smoke disrupts outdoor parties, concerts across Twin Cities

Some Minnesotans are calling off planned outdoor outings, from birthday parties to music shows, because of the poor air quality from wildfire smoke. But others, like the Minnesota Yacht Club Festival, are keeping plans for now.
by Nicole Ki

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BWCA entry permits canceled through Sunday

BWCA entry permits canceled through Sunday

Refunds will go out automatically for anyone who has an entry permit through Sunday.
by Catharine Richert

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Duluth doctor explains how to stay healthy in hazardously smoky air

Duluth doctor explains how to stay healthy in hazardously smoky air

To cope with wildfire smoke blanketing the state, some Minnesotans are wearing N-95 masks or breaking out air filters to circulate fresh air. Dr. Dylan Wyatt of Duluth explained smoke’s effects on the body and how to handle it.
by Nina Moini and Aron Woldeslassie

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MPR News team shares wildfire, smoke outlook and the view from Ely

MPR News team shares wildfire, smoke outlook and the view from Ely

Wildfire smoke is nearly inescapable across most of Minnesota today and the wider Great Lakes region today, especially in Ely, a town near the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.
by Nina Moini, Aleesa Kuznetsov, Alanna Elder and Ellen Finn

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3 things to know about helping pets when the air turns bad

3 things to know about helping pets when the air turns bad

MPR News health reporter Erica Zurek talked to a Twin Cities veterinarian last year when skies were hazy. With conditions worse this year, she revisited her story to help pets and pet owners make the best of a tough summer 2026.
by Erica Zurek

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How wildfire smoke affects air quality and your health

MPR News guest host Kelly Gordon talks about how air quality is monitored and forecast and the health risks of breathing wildfire smoke.
by Kelly Gordon and Cari Dwyer

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As fires burn, Boundary Waters businesses confront lost peak season

As fires burn, Boundary Waters businesses confront lost peak season

After days spent evacuating campers from the Boundary Waters as wildfires spread, outfitters and tourism businesses are beginning to consider the financial fallout. With the wilderness closed during the height of the summer season, many are facing mounting cancellations and an uncertain future.
by Dan Kraker

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