Wildfire Smoke Forces Chicago Fire Game to Be Rescheduled

What’s Happening in Chicago?

Imagine a fluffy gray blanket made of smoke floating over your city. That’s kind of what’s going on in Chicago right now!

• Wildfire smoke from Canada is covering the Chicago area today.
• This smoke is making the air super dirty.
• Chicago is having some of the worst air quality it has seen all year.

Chicago Fire Game Today

The Chicago Fire soccer team was supposed to play against the Vancouver Whitecaps tonight at a big stadium called Soldier Field. But wait—is the game still happening? Here’s what we know so far.

What We Know

• Around 3:20 p.m., the Chicago Fire team said the game would be moved to another day because of the bad air.
• Dave Baldwin, a boss at the Chicago Fire, said: “We share our fans’ disappointment, especially given the excitement surrounding our first match back following the FIFA World Cup break and the anticipation of welcoming more than 40,000 fans to Soldier Field. With a marquee matchup against Vancouver, the anticipated home debut of Robert Lewandowski, and the Two Friends post-match concert, tonight was expected to be a special evening at Soldier Field. While we know this decision is disappointing, health and safety must come first. We appreciate our fans’ understanding and look forward to welcoming them back soon.”
• The game is now planned for Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Soldier Field.
• If you already bought a ticket for today’s game, don’t worry—it will still work on the new date.

Important Point: Chicago’s air is ranked among the worst in the world right now for air quality, with an AQI (Air Quality Index—a number that tells you how clean or dirty the air is) of 291 because of the smoke and pollution.

When Will the Smoke Go Away?

Good news—the smoke won’t stay forever!

• Weather experts think the smoke will start to go away on Friday.
• There might also be rain and thunder storms, but nothing too scary is expected.
• For the newest weather and air updates, you can follow the live weather news coverage.

Summary

Wildfire smoke from Canada is making Chicago’s air very unhealthy. Because of this, the Chicago Fire’s game against Vancouver was moved from tonight to October 6. Tickets for tonight will still be good on the new day. The smoky air should start clearing by Friday. Always remember: breathing clean air is more important than a soccer game!

FAQ

1. Why was the Chicago Fire game rescheduled?
Because wildfire smoke made the air unsafe to breathe, and the team put health and safety first.

2. Will my ticket for the original game still work?
Yes! Tickets bought for today’s match will be valid for the rescheduled game on Oct. 6.

3. How bad is the air in Chicago right now?
Chicago has an AQI of 291, which is very high, making it one of the worst cities for air quality today.

4. When will the smoke leave Chicago?
Forecasters expect the smoke to begin clearing out on Friday, possibly with some rain.

5. Where did this information come from?
The details came from Chicago Fire FC and previous reporting by FOX Chicago.