Canadian wildfire smoke returns: Another air quality alert issued in South Dakota
State officials warn of health risks from haze
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has issued an air quality alert for the weekend due to smoke drifting south from wildfires burning in Canada, officials announced Friday.
The alert goes into effect Saturday, May 31, and will remain in place through Sunday, June 1, or until conditions improve. The smoke is expected to bring increased levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), reducing visibility and potentially impacting public health, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Health officials warn that elderly individuals, young children, and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at the greatest risk. The South Dakota Department of Health is advising all residents to limit outdoor activity and avoid strenuous exercise when smoke is present.
“Air pollution can aggravate heart and cardiovascular disease as well as lung diseases,” according to a news release issued jointly by DANR and the South Dakota Department of Health. “When the air quality is unhealthy, people with these conditions may experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, or fatigue.”
The state recommends keeping indoor air clean by closing windows and doors and monitoring real-time air quality levels, which are available on the DANR website. Health officials consider PM2.5 levels above 35 micrograms per cubic meter a concern for public health.
The alert comes on the heels of years of smoky conditions linked to Canadian wildfires, which have had a measurable impact on South Dakota’s air quality.
From 2021 to 2023, Sioux Falls received an “F” grade for both ozone and particle pollution, according to a report released last month by the American Lung Association. The city ranked 50th worst for fine particulates and 29th worst for ozone among 223 metro areas nationwide. Though air quality improved in 2024, experts say wildfire smoke remains a recurring challenge largely outside state control.
While the 2024 report showed some progress — including a “B” grade for ozone and a “C” for particulates — DANR officials acknowledge that smoke from Canadian and western U.S. wildfires continues to drive seasonal air pollution spikes.
