Minnesota Dust Alert, Bay Area Fines and Louisiana Fire Weather

Today's air news is mostly about wind: dust in Minnesota, and dry, gusty air raising fire danger in Louisiana and Michigan. In California, pollution fines are being turned into local clean-air projects.

Blowing dust alert for western Minnesota

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency issued an air quality alert for west-central and southwestern Minnesota from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, October 10, FOX 9 reports. The alert covers Marshall, Worthington, Ortonville and the Upper Sioux Community. The agency said wind gusts above 40 mph over dry soils in a drought area will kick up dust.

Air quality is expected to reach orange, the level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. The agency recommends that people in sensitive groups limit time outdoors and keep windows closed while the alert is in effect. The dust may also reduce visibility on the roads.

Bay Area pollution fines go back to Richmond-area communities

Contra Costa County and the cities of Richmond and Benicia are sharing $65 million from the Bay Area Air District's fines on industrial air quality violators, according to SFGATE. The district said these are the first awards of their kind in California, sending penalty money back to the communities most affected by pollution.

Richmond receives $10.7 million and Contra Costa County $12.9 million. Richmond plans to support electric public transit, plant 600 trees, provide transit passes to 1,500 residents and expand asthma prevention resources.

Hurricane Isaias raises wildfire danger in Southwest Louisiana

Hurricane Isaias is far east of Southwest Louisiana, but its outer circulation is bringing gusty northeast winds and very dry air to the region, the American Press reports. A National Weather Service coordinator in Lake Charles said there were at least eight wildfires in the Piney Woods area in one day, with the region already in drought.

Complete burn bans are in place for Beauregard and Vernon parishes. Forecasters expect the heightened fire risk to last through the weekend.

Lightning-sparked fire in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

A 16-acre wildfire north of Craig Lake in Baraga County, likely started by two lightning strikes, is being fought by Michigan DNR crews, water-scooping planes from Minnesota and a state police helicopter, MLive reports. Officials asked people to stay out of the area and keep drones grounded, because firefighting aircraft can't fly when drones are present.

The DNR had already warned that warm, dry, windy weather was raising fire risk across the Upper Peninsula, with critical fire conditions possible Saturday, CBS News reports. The agency reminds residents to check burn permit postings before burning yard debris.

Teanaway trails reopen smoke-free after the Labor Mountain fire

In Washington's Cascades, trails in the Teanaway area that were closed or choked with smoke during last year's Labor Mountain fire are open again, the Spokesman-Review reports. After this summer's Three Queens fire to the west, rain has come through and the trails are now smoke-free for the fall larch season.

Sources

Minnesota weather: Air quality alert issued for Saturday due to blowing dust — FOX 9
Regional: $65M In Airdistrict Penalties Go To Contra Costa Co., Richmond, Benicia — SFGATE
Hurricane Isaias triggers severe wildfire threat in SW La. — American Press
Firefighters contain Upper Peninsula wildfire likely sparked by lightning strikes — MLive
Michigan DNR warns of wildfire risk due to weather conditions in Upper Peninsula — CBS News
After wildfire, off-the-radar Cascades larch trail is ready for 'Larch Madness' — Spokane Spokesman-Review

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.