Pandemic replay — thanks to pollution from wildfires, masks again are a must-have item

Chicagoans dashed into stores across the city Thursday to get what they needed to protect their lungs from dangerous pollution levels caused by Canadian wildfire smoke. Elizabeth Keough, assistant manager at the Crafty Beaver Home Center in Uptown, said store traffic Thursday was a lot busier than expected given the rough conditions outside. “We’re selling so many air filters, getting a little cleared out of masks as well,” Keough said. Jin Kim, co-owner of Kim’s Hardware, said he similarly saw…