Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Why is There Smoke in Waukesha?

Smoke is coming from Minnesota wildfires.

The has received many phone calls this morning reporting smoke throughout Waukesha County. They’ve sent out several fire departments to look, but there are no reports of a fire in the area.

Even the City of Waukesha has the smell of smoke when you step outside. So where is the fire?

Surprise, it’s not even in Wisconsin.

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

A dispatcher working in the emergency call center said it is believed that the smoke is coming from the northern Minnesota wildfires. Sullivan and Oconomowoc have also received similar reports.

Meanwhile, City of Waukesha Communications Supervisor Brian Jansen sent out an e-mail to city emergency officials about the smoke. The Waukesha Police Department dispatch center has been receiving dozens of phone calls about the smoke.

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

"There is a visible smoke haze, and odor of smoke throughout the whole city," Jansen said in the e-mail. "This smoke is originating from wildfires in the Boundary Waters area of Northern Minnesota, near Ely, MN. North-west winds are carrying the smoke throughout the State of Wisconsin and even Michigan. This fire has reportedly been burning since Aug. 18."

CBS in Minnesota is reporting that the cold front is pushing the smoke throughout Wisconsin. The Ripon, WI, newspaper is reporting its community is smelling smoke.

Residents and campers in the Boundary Waters are being asked to evacuate the area where the wildfire is, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

"As of late Monday, Sept. 12, the fire had grown to around 11,000 acres," the National Weather Service's website states. "Northwest winds aloft pushed smoke from the fire into northern and eastern Wisconsin.Β  On Tuesday morning, a strong scent of burning wood was evident as far east as Green Bay and Sheboygan."


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