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Poor air quality forces second day of cancellation for Washoe schools

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Washoe County School District officials canceled school on Tuesday for a second day in a row due to poor air quality caused by nearby wildfires. All schools except for Gerlach K-12 are canceled, and before- and after-school activities will not be held.

The air quality index (AQI) at 5 a.m. Tuesday was 336, which falls within the “hazardous” range.

The Washoe County Health District’s Air Quality Management Division on Monday said residents should expect “very unhealthy” to “hazardous” air quality through Wednesday, depending on weather patterns. After Wednesday the forecast shifts to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” through the weekend.

A Stage 3 Emergency Episode was declared Monday after the AQI remained over 200 for a 24-hour period.

This Is Reno on Monday asked WCSD officials if the district had established an AQI threshold which it would use to determine if classes would be canceled. Officials said they were working on that information but did not provide a response by the end of the day.

To see current air quality in Reno-Sparks, click here

Kristen Hackbarth
Kristen Hackbarth
Kristen Hackbarth is a freelance editor and communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing, public relations and communications in northern Nevada. Kristen graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a degree in photography and minor in journalism and has a Master of Science in Management and Leadership. She also serves as director of communications for Nevada Cancer Coalition, a statewide nonprofit. Though she now lives in Atlanta, she is a Nevadan for life and uses her three-hour time advantage to get a jump on the morning’s news.

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