Community Corner

Smoke From Minnesota Wildfire Travels 400 Miles to Evanston

The smell of campfire in the air is caused by a fire in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota.

Smoke from a huge wildfire in Minnesota has traveled more than 400 miles to Northern Illinois, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The agency has issued a special weather statement due to smoke from the forest fire. Hazy skies and a distinct burning odor are expected to persist through the evening tonight.

According to NWS, the smoke traveled so far due to a combination of sinking air and northerly winds. NWS warns that the smoke will persist through the afternoon and into the evening hours. The smoke is prevalent enough to cause people to experience difficulty breathing and burning eyes. People with respiratory problems should use caution.

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The fire started Aug. 18 with a lightning strike 20 miles from Ely, MN, then smoldered for more than a week before flaring to life, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette.

The fire has spread to cover 60,000 acres in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Called the Pagami Creek Fire, it has spread so rapidly that the National Guard has been mobilized to help fight the blaze, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Find out what's happening in Evanstonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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