Ky’Tavia Stafford-Carreker asked her professor Wednesday if she could miss class because the poor air quality from the Skirball fire worsened her seasonal allergies and sinus infection.

Smoky skies. Masked students. A near-deserted campus.
This is what Bruins witnessed Wednesday, as a fire raged less than two miles away from campus in nearby Bel-Air.

UCLA canceled classes Wednesday and Thursday due to poor air quality following the Skirball fire in the Bel-Air area. The Daily Bruin’s Emi Nakahara spoke with Suzanne Paulson, an atmospheric and oceanic sciences professor whose research focuses on air pollution in urban environments, to discuss the possible health impacts of the air quality on campus and Westwood during the fire.

“UCLA Memes for Sick AF Tweens” is known for its commentary on campus events, and the Skirball fire proved to be no exception. While some students took to drafting petitions and posting angry status updates to voice their concerns over how UCLA handled the situation, others turned to the Facebook community to comment on the fire.

This post was updated Dec. 7 at 1:10 p.m.

Some student leaders said they think the UCLA administration’s response to the Skirball fire was inefficient and that the decision to cancel Thursday classes could have been made earlier.

UCLA canceled Wednesday afternoon classes because the Skirball fire near campus made it difficult for some students and faculty to commute.
An early Bruin Alert said students should consult their instructors as to whether to attend classes.

UCLA men’s basketball’s Wednesday night game was canceled because of a fire in the Bel-Air area.
The Bruins were scheduled to take on Montana at 8 p.m.

This post was updated Dec. 9 at 6:40 p.m.
UCLA resumed classes and campus activities Friday, following a fire that burned through Bel-Air on Wednesday and Thursday.