Health & Fitness

Two Respite Centers Open In Oakland Amid Poor Air Quality

The air quality index for the city was 183 Saturday, which is considered unhealthy, and that number was expected to increase.

Aftermath of Walbridge Fire shows destruction on Chemise Road and Big Ridge Road, just west of Healdsburg, August 2020.
Aftermath of Walbridge Fire shows destruction on Chemise Road and Big Ridge Road, just west of Healdsburg, August 2020. (Simone Wilson/Patch)

OAKLAND, CA — Amid ominous orange skies, coupled with unhealthy air quality from smoldering fires across the West Coast, two respite centers opened in Oakland Saturday.

The centers activated on Saturday are the Oakland Public Library 81st Avenue Branch, 1021 81st Ave., from 1 to 7 p.m.; and the St. Vincent de Paul Community Center, 2272 San Pablo Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two additional respite centers that opened Friday will also be available on Saturday. The Dimond Branch of the Oakland Public Library, 3565 Fruitvale Ave. will be open from noon to 7 p.m. and the North Oakland Senior Center at 5714 Martin Luther King Jr. Way will be open from noon to 5 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Berkeleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

As of 9 a.m. Saturday, the air quality index for the city was 183, which is considered unhealthy. The air quality is forecast to reach very unhealthy levels later in the day.

Find more information on air quality health and safety tips here.

Find out what's happening in Berkeleyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Bay City News and Patch staffer Kat Schuster contributed to this report.

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