A particularly harsh wildfire season this year has forced the postponement or closing of schools in the western U.S., with Washington, Oregon and Montana being heavily affected.
The Eagle Creek Fire continues to be a problem for Oregon’s Hood River School District, as schools were closed Friday due to poor air quality. Earlier this month, road closures, evacuations and relocation of classes to other campuses resulted in bus routes being changed or temporarily stopped.
Portland Public Schools’ biggest concern was heat and smoke from the Eagle Creek fire, said Assistant Transportation Director Teri Brady. “We have very few buildings with air conditioning, and we had to limit open windows because of poor air quality,” Brady told STN. “That left few options for keeping our classrooms at a reasonable temperature.” Schools released two hours early on September 4, and kindergarten started a day later than scheduled so they wouldn’t be “starting their first day on a confusing early release.”
Areas in level-three evacuation zones around Corbett School District in Oregon were unable to receive school bus services for several days at the beginning of the month, but bus timings remained the same as much as possible in order to retain a sense of normalcy for the kids. “This has not been very difficult as all of the Corbett School District drivers are highly skilled and are very familiar with their routes,” Transportation Supervisor Todd Williams reported to STN.
About half of Oregon’s McKenzie School District was under evacuation orders in early September. After consulting with Lane County Emergency Management and Sherriff’s Office, the district postponed the start of school twice.
During the first two weeks of September especially, the Stevenson-Carson School District in Washington, located close to the Columbia Gorge fire, monitored the heat advisories and air quality and posted school updates on their Facebook page. Students were kept inside until their bus arrived, released early, or not required to come to school on days with heavy smoke, “excessive heat and poor air quality.” The district also offered to send school buses to help with evacuations in nearby Skamania County.
Seely Swan High School, part of the Missoula County public school system in Montana, closed under an evacuation order that was later lifted, though classes are currently being held in The Resort at Paws Up. The decision was based on factors including, “air quality in the Seeley Lake area, the potential for a future evacuation order, transportation to after school athletics practices and the ability to offer students a productive learning experience.”
Bus routing software company EDULOG is based in Missoula, Montana. Company President Jason Corbally told STN that, “employees have had a tough summer, enduring the constant smoke and haze.” He added that the fires have negatively impacted Montana’s scenic beauty and crisp air, which attracts clients and “a talented workforce.”
The National Interagency Fire Center reports 66 active large fires, covering 1,708,661 acres from Washington state to Nevada to Texas, currently still ongoing.
