Hazy skies and heat blanket the Pacific Northwest

As smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and central Washington blanketed the Puget Sound region on Friday, workers at a construction site in Seattle's University District tried their best to stay cool.

As afternoon temperatures in Seattle soared to the 90s, Rafael León was working outside, sweating under the heavy safety gear he wears to install water pipes and other utilities.

"You sweat and sweat," León said. "They try to bring Gatorade, water, and ice to stay hydrated, because the heat has been so bad lately.

When it's hot and smoky enough, employers in Washington state are required to protect their employees who work outside. León says he’s allowed to take breaks in the shade when he needs to, and his boss comes by with a cooler full of ice and water bottles sometimes.

But soaring temperatures weren't the only factor behind Seattle's smoky haze. Poor air quality also joined forces with the heat Friday afternoon. The city's air quality index remained at an unhealthy level for sensitive groups like the elderly, children, and people with heart or respiratory conditions for most of the day, and by 4 p.m., the AQI reached 152. Anything above 151 is considered unhealthy for some members of the general public.

For León, the smoke doesn't bother him that much, although it could still be causing long-term health effects.

"The company gives us masks, León said. "It’s just that, if you have to wear a mask all day — we take them off."

The region's air quality is expected to improve throughout the day Saturday and temperatures are expected to cool down throughout the remainder of the weekend.