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Mayor urges masks, doors closed as wildfire smoke brings haze to Athens
Summary
During a weekly update the mayor and meteorologist Kyle Johansen warned that wildfire smoke from northwestern Ontario will produce hazy conditions in Athens, advising residents—particularly those with respiratory conditions—to stay indoors and consider wearing masks.
The mayor and Kyle Johansen urged Athens residents on the weekly update to take precautions as wildfire smoke moving in from northwestern Ontario brought hazy skies and lower air quality to the area.
"There's a push over there saying the second piece that we're supposed to see tomorrow is supposed to be about 5 or 10 times worse," Kyle Johansen said, summarizing the forecast and the expected increase in smoke. Johansen delivered a multi-day forecast, calling for highs in the 90s through Friday and scattered storms into next week.
The mayor told residents to keep doors closed and recommended that people with respiratory conditions, such as asthma or COPD, remain particularly cautious and consider using masks similar to those worn during the COVID pandemic. The mayor emphasized local visible haze and asked residents to monitor official alerts for rapidly changing conditions.
City alert tools such as the Nixel service and the CitySource app were highlighted as ways to receive localized warnings; the mayor advised residents to sign up for those services for immediate notices.
The update did not include an official air-quality index reading; residents were directed to monitor public-health guidance and city alerts for specific exposure information.
