Live updates: Minnesota wildfires continue burning, officials to give update Friday

Firefighters continue battling wildfires across northeastern Minnesota, where more than a dozen active fires, collectively known as the July Lightning Event, have burned an estimated 55,000 acres in and around the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Air quality is improving across much of Minnesota as wildfire smoke shifts north on Friday, but hazardous air quality is expected to persist across northeastern regions through the weekend. Officials are expected to give an update on firefighting efforts Friday afternoon.