Canadian wildfires cover Kent State in blanket of smoke

Hazy+skies+in+downtown+Kent+due+to+Canadian+wildfires+on+June+28%2C+2023.+

Erin Sullivan

Hazy skies in downtown Kent due to Canadian wildfires on June 28, 2023.

Destiny Torres, Reporter

It’s a hazy, smoky day in Kent due to the abundance of smoke that has traveled from Canadian wildfires.

There is an air quality alert in effect for most of Northeastern Ohio today, June 28, according to the National Weather Service. They strongly recommend that those with serious underlying health conditions should limit being outdoors.

Kent State released a statement, sent out by Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration Mark Polatajko, urging the community to restrict time spent outside.

The statement read, “Kent State employee groups with jobs that take them outside for long periods during the day should alter their work for the time being.”

Along with insisting that staff should stay inside, the campus is modifying Destination Kent State so that incoming students can remain safe and healthy.

Air quality indexes above 151 are considered unhealthy. It is suggested that everybody check the index before spending time outside.

“We will continue to monitor the air quality,” wrote Polatajko. “As always, the safety of our Kent State community remains our utmost concern.”

Destiny Torres is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].