In Photos: UCSB Students Bike Through Ash, Prepare for Finals Amid SoCal Fires

December 7, 2017 at 8:10 pm by Daily Nexus Photography

As the Thomas Fire rages across Ventura County, poor air quality is impacting the day-to-day lives of UC Santa Barbara students and Isla Vistans.

While Isla Vista and UCSB are still about 30 miles away from the fire, the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District has classified Santa Barbara’s air quality as “very unhealthy” and Goleta’s as “unhealthy.”

Chancellor Henry T. Yang announced today that all Thursday and Friday classes would be canceled, leaving the UCSB campus nearly empty by late afternoon on Thursday.

Photos by Daily Nexus Photographers

A desolate campus on a Thursday afternoon due to cancelled classes from the conditions resulting from the Thomas Fire. Campbell Nolan / Daily Nexus

Students began wearing masks around campus and in Isla Vista on Tuesday to protect themselves from the smoke in the air. Stephen Manga / Daily Nexus

A biker goes by using a bandana to protect himself from the ash and particles in the polluted air. Sicheng Wang / Daily Nexus

Jake Eisaguirre, third-year environmental studies major, puts a mask on his dog Lulu to prevent the inhalation of poor air from the Thomas Fire. Will Tracy / Daily Nexus

Despite Eisaguirre’s best efforts to protect Lulu from the unhealthy air quality, Lulu is reluctant to wear the mask. Will Tracy / Daily Nexus

According to the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Goleta’s air quality is “unhealthy” and Santa Barbara’s is “very unhealthy.” William Tracy / Daily Nexus

Isla Vista residents enjoy a game of beer die despite the poor air quality, taking precaution to prevent ash from falling into their beers. Will Tracy / Daily Nexus

Chancellor Henry T. Yang sent an email to students Thursday morning cancelling all classes for the remainder of the day because of the effects of the Thomas Fire on UCSB students. Nicole Wallace / Daily Nexus