NORTH COVENTRY PA – The return of the North Coventry Police Department’s popular “Cops and Cones” event, which was scheduled for Wednesday evening (June 7, 2023), has been postponed due to poor air quality as a result of smoke in the area from Canadian wildfires.
The department’s announcement, on its CrimeWatch website, included a cell phone screenshot (at right) that demonstrated breathing local air was “very unhealthy.” The department acknowledged the “unforeseen air quality” could pose problems for potential participants, and delayed the third annual ice cream outing.
Canadian officials told the Associated Press this is shaping up to be the nation’s worst wildfire season ever. It started early on drier-than-usual ground and accelerated very quickly, the news service reported. On Tuesday (June 6) more than 100 were burning and considered out of control. Smoke from blazes in various parts of the country has been wafting into the U.S. since last month, it added.
Given that background, “we will make a decision and alert everyone regarding using tomorrow as the event date” by no later than Thursday (June 8) by noon, the department added. “If we feel tomorrow is also unsafe, we will let everyone know what date we will be using in the future.”
It also encouraged area residents “to do activities inside while the air quality rating is so poor.” It urged people to “stay safe, and we look forward to spending an evening with everyone when it is safe for everyone to do so.”
Photo from the 2022 Cops and Cones event by Travels With The Post
Screenshot provided by the North Coventry Police Department
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