The Whitewater-Baldy Complex fire continues to blow smoke toward southern New Mexico and a Las Cruces doctor warns there could be negative health effects if the smoke lingers for an extended period of time.

The fire has so far burned more than 170,000 acres and zero percent has been contained. It isn't expected to be fully contained until July.

"It's very concerning that there's going to be smoke in the air for that long," said Dr. Kevin Sherer, a pulmonologist. "Some patients may have to go on additional medicines and if they have to take this for many months this leads to many side effects."

Las Crucen Ken Major took advantage of the chance to throw around a baseball with his two boys Wednesday afternoon when the skies seemed to clear at one point.

"It's been hazy and I've even felt it myself," Major said.

But Major said that he worries about keeping his children outside when the smoke is thick.

"There's allergies and what not that are aggravated as well with the smoke," Major said. "We just don't want it to affect, you know, their breathing in any sort of way."

Sherer said in extreme cases, people with breathing problems can end up in the emergency room because of the smoke and said that adults are children are susceptible to the same health problems.

"We do know that children who are exposed to smoke for long periods of time are at greater risk of developing asthma or chronic lung diseases," Sherer said.