CASHMERE — Smoke conditions deemed unsafe forced an early release today of all Cashmere School District students and a two-hour late start for schools on Friday.

Superintendent Glenn Johnson said smoke grew thick and heavy this morning both outside and inside school buildings as wildfires burned to the south and southeast of the city. The early release came at 12:15 p.m.

“It’s a really unusual situation, and we didn’t take this decision lightly,” said Johnson. “But we could see smoke conditions even inside the buildings weren't healthy for the kids.”

Parents or emergency contacts for all middle school and elementary students were notified prior to the early release, Johnson said.

Opening of district schools will be delayed two hours Friday, said Johnson. Changing smoke conditions could also mean further delays or even cancellation of school and events Friday, so parents and students should remain alert to conditions and school notifications.

The district’s athletic events have also been either cancelled or relocated. Tonight’s volleyball matches have been cancelled, varsity and junior varsity soccer matches have been moved to Ephrata. And Friday’s high school football game has been relocated to Omak.