A large wildfire smoke from northeast Minnesota is prompting Lake County health officials to encourage children, the elderly and those susceptible to respiratory and cardiac problems to use caution when spending time outdoors at least through this evening. Also, unusually sensitive individuals should limit prolonged or strenuous activity outdoors.

The wildfire is in the Boundary Waters Canoe area in northeastern Minnesota. A cold front and winds from the north is bringing the smoke into this area and expected to spread it across northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana throughout this evening.

"We are monitoring the particulate matter (PM2.5) on the various air quality Web sites such as the USEPA AirNow.gov. Smaller particles such as those from smoke pose the greatest health risk, particularly for individuals with a high sensitivity," said Mark Pfister, Population Health Services Director for the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center.

Pfister also noted that individuals with respiratory problems may also be exposed to high mold spore, ragweed and goldenrod pollen counts when they go outside today.

Information regarding wildfire smoke may also be found on the CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL WEB SITE