Smoky haze from wildfires seen in Louisville could pose health risk for some The Louisville Air Pollution Control District has issued an air quality alert for Thursday, warning that people about potential health problems. Author: Dennis Ting Updated: 7:40 PM EDT July 21, 2021 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The smoky haze that can be seen around the Louisville area can be traced back to smoke from thousands of miles away. "I noticed when I looked across the river, I was thinking to myself it's awful hazy," Ricky Shepherd, a cyclist, said. "If you look across the river, you can just see it. It's just right before your eyes."