* WHAT...The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for fine particles pollution. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is expected to reach the Maroon or Hazardous category. * WHERE...Northeast Minnesota. * WHEN...Until 11 AM CDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Everyone will be affected by wildfire smoke in these concentrations. Minor trace amounts of ashfall are likely and have been observed with the dense smoke. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Dense smoke continues across northern Minnesota. AQI values have already been observed in the Maroon/Hazardous concentration and will continue through the alert period. The smoke will persist until at least Friday, but this alert may need to be extended.