Minnesota wildfires force dramatic rescues as smoke chokes the Eastern US

Have you seen this? Wildfires are burning in remote parts of northeastern Minnesota

while smoke from fires in Minnesota and Canada is affecting the air quality across much of the

eastern U.S. in a dangerous and foul way. St. Louis County in northeastern Minnesota

has declared a local emergency as wildfires burn across the Superior National Forest

and Boundary Waters Wilderness. The U.S. Forest Service says at least 17 fires are burning

including three inside the remote canoe area wilderness. Rangers estimate between 6,000 and 10,000 people were in the area when evacuations began

and say about 90 percent were out by Wednesday. Governor Tim Walz says rescuers saved two groups of YMCA campers

First responders also carried out 17 air rescues. The fires have burned more than 33,000 acres with hot, dry, windy conditions

and lightning spreading the flames. The smoke is now affecting millions of people

Air quality alerts stretch from the upper Midwest into the Northeast, including parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and New England

where residents reported yellow and brown-tinged skies. Health officials are urging people to limit time outdoors

especially children, older adults, and anyone with heart or lung conditions. By the way, I spoke with friends back in Buffalo, New York yesterday

They say they have been surrounded by a yellowish, spooky haze. In fact, Toronto, which is about 90 minutes away, had some of the worst air quality in the world yesterday