Syracuse

Looking towards the smoke stacks in Solvay from Onondaga Lake Park obscured by smoke from Canada wild fires, Liverpool, N.Y., Tuesday June 6, 2023. Scott Schild | [email protected] Schild | sschild@syracuse.

Update 3 p.m. Tuesday: The smoky haze could be worse on Wednesday.

Syracuse, N.Y. — Numerous school districts in Onondaga County are canceling outdoor activities today for students to keep kids inside and out of the smoky haze caused by Canada wildfires.

The Syracuse city schools, Liverpool, North Syracuse, West Genesee, Jamesville-DeWitt and Baldwinsville are among the school districts shutting down outdoor activities today. Those changes include outdoor physical education classes, wellness activities and playground time, officials said.

North Syracuse schools made the call after its medical director, Dr. Robert Dracker of Liverpool, said it would be advisable for students to stay inside today, officials said.

Most after-school sports have concluded for the season, but most schools are canceling any outdoor after-school activities.

Modified athletic games and practices are canceled and varsity athletes will practice indoors in the J-D school district, for example.

As of midday today, Syracuse had the poorest air quality in the state. Upstate New York is under an air quality alert for the second day in a row as smoke from Quebec wildfires continues to flow south.

The East Syracuse monitor showed 172 micrograms per cubic meter of those tiny particles and other pollutants. That level is considered "unhealthy" for everybody. For context, anything under 50 ppm is considered "good."

The smoke will continue today, the weather service said.

The state has issued an air quality alert for virtually all of Upstate through midnight. The alert is for fine particulates that can cause eye and nose irritation, and can burrow deep into the lungs and bloodstream.

Canada has been burning on both coasts over the past month, from British Columbia and the western prairies to the Atlantic maritime provinces, destroying more than 10,000 acres of forest and grassland. More than 15,000 people were evacuated from coastal Quebec. As of Monday, 160 fires continued to burn in Quebec alone.

As of late Tuesday morning, the Carrier Park Opening Day Ceremonies are still scheduled to take place at 5 p.m.

The Syracuse Challengers team and players will decide about the post-ceremony game later, officials said.

Elizabeth Doran covers education, suburban government and development, breaking news and more. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact her anytime 315-470-3012 or email [email protected]

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