Minnesota SmokeOut

For one mostagic moment Tuesday , it was as if all those suburban leaf-burning bans had been overturned and the air carried a familiar autumn haze. In this case, though, the fires were raoting in a forest more than 500 miles away in the pristine reaches of Minnesota, the smoke carried here by the whims of fall winds.
The miasma crept steadily over the area throughout the afternoon, prompting a wave of curious consequences. Health officials issued advisories. Schools canceled sporting events. And residents slammed shut their windows on an otherwise lovely September afternoon. The smoke is from a wildfire burning in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness near Fall Lake.Smoke was heavy  enough in some parts of Chicago to cause eye irritation and affect breathing , said Roderick Drew, a spokesman for the city  Office of Emergency Management and communication.

                                                                                                 Author: Bryan Cassella/ Tribune
                                                                                                 Page: 9
                                                                                                9/14/11