Bad air forces games to be rescheduled

Fans planning on attending any of the Madera South and Madera water polo matches were met with empty pools.

The San Joaquin Air Polution Control district issued an air quality alert on Wednesday due to smoke impacts from the wildfires in Northern California. The alert is in affect until Saturday afternoon.

According to CalFire, a shift in wind and weather conditions brought smoke from the Northern California wildfires to the Central Valley.

Because of the air quality alert, Madera Unified School District cancelled all outdoor extracurricular activities, including both schools’ water polo matches.

According to Madera High School athletics director John Fernandez, the alert came across his desk at about 1:30 p.m. and he had to alert his coaches and make phone calls to try to reschedule games.

Because of the alert, Fernandez moved Thursday’s freshman football game against Bullard from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., but also expressed there may be a possibility that game may be moved, as well.

Fernandez said he is hopeful the water polo matches can be played Thursday, but is also aware, the air quality may force another postponement.

However, Fernandez did say that indoor sports were still on schedule, including practices.