News : Vinton air quality is considered "Very Unhealthy"

Canadian fire locations

Map from the DNR showing air quality

Air quality in Vinton is considered - Very Unhealthy

If you have to go outside, chances are your first reaction is to think that it's foggy. And then you smell the smoke from the Canadian wildfires which has reached Iowa.  The smoke was seen in New York over the last few weeks and has slowly made its way to the Midwest. It doesn't appear that the fires are close to being put out.

So far, more than 19.5 million acres have burned across Canada and  are only 50% contained. Right now there are 482 active fires in Canada.

Included in the photos is a map of the fires.

Key to the Map:

Red: 253 Out of Control

Blue: 76 Being held

Yellow: 153 Under Control

The DNR map has also created a map, and this too can be seen in the photos. According to the DNR, Vinton is in the purple zone where the air quality is considered to be "very unhealthy." So stay inside if you can. It's NOT a good day to send the kids outside or to go for a walk or jogging. It doesn't appear that it's going to get better quickly. Assume if you can see the smoke, it's not a good day to be outside inhaling the smoke.

The DNR says about the poor air quality. It "is unhealthy for everyone, but especially for children, senior citizens and people with respiratory conditions like asthma." 

Masks are recommended you must be outside for any length of time.

To follow the levels of smoke visit the DNR website HERE. 

Also included in the photos is a map of the Canadian fire locations.

A special thank you to Jason Hicok of Eastern Iowa Drone Services for the photo of Vinton.