ROCKFORD — A hazy white smoke settled over northern Illinois on Thursday and any Rockford residents looking to point fingers should face north.

That's right: Blame Canada.

A cold front has pulled smoke from wildfires in Canada into southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois, as well as other parts of the country, according to the National Weather Service in Milwaukee.

Canadian #smoke has made its way into southern Wisconsin this morning #wiwx pic.twitter.com/3pNYqC1Xok

— NWS Milwaukee (@NWSMKX) August 31, 2017



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The faint smell of smoke — stronger in some areas of Rockford than others — prompted several nonemergency calls to the Rockford Fire Department from people inquiring about the source, Chief Derek Bergsten said.

Much like burning leaves in the fall, the smoke could pose problems for people with respiratory conditions such as COPD and asthma, or even common allergies, said Chris Swartout, manager of the Respiratory Care Department and Pulmonary Lab for SwedishAmerican Hospital.

"They certainly want to avoid it and stay inside as much as they can," Swartout said.

The smoke just made its way to this area, but had covered the Pacific Northwest earlier in August. It even sparked a #BlameCanada hashtag on Twitter, which was being used by some in the Rock River Valley on Thursday.

The wildfires prompted British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province, to declare a state of emergency that forced thousands of people from their homes. Two dozen wildfires are still burning, many caused by lightning strikes, according to the BC Wildfire Service. CBC News in Canada declared it the "Summer of Fire" and reported about 6,900 people are still living under evacuation orders.

Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; khaas@rrstar.com; @KevinMHaas