The city of Evanston has ordered its public beaches closed as smoke from Canadian wildfires triggered an air pollution alert.
A trickle of swimmers and joggers came out to Lighthouse Beach in the haze before the city announced the closures Thursday morning.
Several people told WBBM they noticed the smoke as soon as they stepped outside their homes, comparing the smell to a campfire or something from their fireplace.
After two days of extreme heat, people were eager to get outside.
Marcia went for a swim and said the lake breeze made the wildfire smoke less visible than it was near her home in downtown Evanston.
Veronica from Barrington was feeling a little congested after running in the haze but is more worried about her upcoming family vacation to Montreal and Quebec.
