Forest Fire Updates
We are emailing our participants daily to keep you all updated on the current forest fires in Jim Thorpe. We will post the emails here in case you miss them.
4/23
We are delighted to report that the firefighters and first responders have done incredible work to get the fire in the mountains around Jim Thorpe under control.
The sky is blue and clear and the AQI is down all the way to 33. It is a fresh, beautiful day in Jim Thorpe. I am happy to report that the running festival will go on as scheduled!
4/22
If you missed yesterday's email, a wildfire is burning in the mountains around Jim Thorpe. We are working with all the authorities involved to ensure a safe and enjoyable festival.
Here is today's update:
We continue to expect to hold all events of the running festival as planned.
The winds have shifted and a controlled burn seems to have been successful.
Of course, the biggest concern for us and our runners is the quality of the air. Air quality is measured by the Air Quality Index (AQI). AQI tells us how many particles of pollution are in the air, so lower numbers are better. The RRCA recommends rescheduling or moving events if the AQI goes above 150.
The current AQI in Jim Thorpe is 51. By comparison, the current AQI in Philadelphia is 60.
The forecast calls for rain on Friday and for winds to continue to blow the smoke away from Jim Thorpe, so we are optimistic about the festival happening as planned.
However, out of an abundance of caution, we have worked with the county, state, boroughs, and parks to form a contingency plan that would move the start and finish of all races to White Haven. We are having the alternate marathon course certified for those of you who are looking to qualify for Boston. Train riders would still ride the train.
Again, we do not plan to have to use this contingency. We plan for the festival to go on as scheduled. However, we want you to know that we do have a plan in place in case things get worse. We plan to make a final decision by Thursday evening.
Again, please do not email questions about the fire or the contingency planning. If you have questions about the festival, please see our FAQs and our Race-Day Information pages.
Warm regards,
Michael Ragozzino
Festival Director
