The Lake Bluff Public Library shut its doors for a second straight day Friday, July 17, after Canadian wildfire smoke pushed indoor air quality to unsafe levels inside the building at 123 E. Scranton Ave.
The library first closed Thursday, July 16, citing "extremely poor air quality inside the Library caused by smoke from the Canadian wildfires." Staff monitored conditions overnight but found no improvement by Friday morning.
Whether the library reopens Saturday, July 18, remains uncertain. The library said Saturday hours "will depend on the air quality within the building" and directed patrons to lakeblufflibrary.org for updates. Normal hours on both days are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The closures disrupted summer programming. The library's Summer Reading Club event Sea Quest #6 was scheduled for Friday and Saturday, and a Miss Jamie's Farm Sing Along was listed for Saturday, according to the Lake Forest–Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce calendar. The status of those events depends on whether the building reopens.
Digital library services remain available around the clock, the library noted in its closure announcement.
Regional air quality emergency
The smoke originates from roughly 850 wildfires burning in Canada, many of the largest in Ontario, according to Forbes. The Air Quality Index in the Chicago metro area topped 300 Friday morning, a level AccuWeather classified as "dangerous." The Illinois EPA issued air quality alerts through Friday night.
Lake County registered unhealthy readings as early as Thursday, according to the Chicago Tribune. PM2.5 concentrations in the North Shore suburbs dropped from above 900 micrograms per cubic meter Thursday night to about 465 µg/m³ Friday morning. Those readings still translate to AQI levels well above 300, which AirNow classifies as "a health warning of emergency conditions."
The National Weather Service expects the smoke to leave northern Illinois sometime Friday afternoon, though forecasters warned it could drift back Saturday evening and continue into Sunday. AccuWeather forecast Saturday's AQI around 217, still in the "very unhealthy" range.
Lake Forest closures, too
Across the border in Lake Forest, Forest Park Beach is closed and outdoor recreation programs have been moved indoors. The city canceled Thursday's Concert in the Square and said closures will remain until air quality improves to safe levels, according to Patch.
The Illinois EPA advises residents to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, run high-efficiency filters in air conditioning systems, and wear an N-95 or N-100 mask if they must go outside.
Residents can reach the Lake Bluff library at 847-234-2540 or check lakeblufflibrary.org and the library's Facebook and Instagram pages for Saturday's status.
