Grand Rapids was shrouded in a thick haze Thursday as ongoing Canadian and Minnesotan wildfires covered Michigan in smoke.
Several wildfires in northern Minnesota were spreading out of control as of Thursday. The conditions are expected to continue through Friday.
The city reached a rating of 450 on the Air Quality Index by midday, as measured by AirNow.gov. That rating fell within the lowest quality ranking of “hazardous.”
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy issued an air quality alert extending into Friday and advised residents to refrain from outdoor activity.
“Observed smoke concentrations are unprecedented and far exceed the smoke events of 2023 and 2025,” the alert reads. “This can be blamed on the nearness of the fires (north of the Minnesota arrowhead region) and the shear [SIC] number and size of fires in that area. A front dropped through the region on Wednesday trapping and dragging that smoke southward to complete the picture.”
Rain is expected Saturday, which may improve conditions, the alert added.
Write to jackson@grherald.com