Over the course of 2016, over 40,000 acres of forest and land in Tennessee alone has been burned due to the excessive number of forest fires the state has seen this year. Due to such a severe drought, the land was easily set aflame and not-so-easily extinguished. The state of November has proven to be one of the worst the south has seen all year in regards to the wildfires, several of which were believed to be the result of arson.

Though the fires were located much more towards the mountains that surround the valley, there was no shortage of smoke settling in the air in the Tennessee valley. For several days, the air quality prompted city officials to issue a Code Red alert, encouraging people of every age to stay indoors with the windows and doors closed and to avoid any unnecessary physical activities outside. However, despite the poor-air quality alerts, Hamilton Country Schools were still in session, much to the dismay of students.

On Monday, November 14th, Central High School’s campus looked more like the location of a bonfire than a school campus. Students suffered the drive to school with little visibility, and many parents were concerned with their students driving with the smoke hanging in the air. Many students across campus admitted to feeling the effects of the smog in their lungs, and many students prompted their parents to dismiss them from school. According to Central High School’s dismissal records, 71 students were checked out by parents due to the smog.

“I told my mom the smoke was bad and I was having a hard time breathing, and she came and picked me up. I sent her a picture and she was shocked that we were even in school,” stated Taylor Hamby, Central High School senior.

Several students were checked out that day, with a parent excuse. Though many students felt that the county should have excused the students from school for the day. Students with allergies and asthma felt the effects much more severe, and many were struggling to breath comfortably by the end of the day.

“It was so bad that I felt like I was breathing and swallowing fire, because my allergies are so bad,” shared senior Hannah Holmberg.

The air has cleared up in the last few days, though many places around Soddy Daisy and Lookout Mountain are still feeling and seeing the effects of the smoke. The air quality has increased from the Code Red that was sent out, and is now considered moderate, though people across the county are still feeling the effects, and the air report is still encouraging unusually sensitive to consider reducing heavy or prolonged exertion.