Air Warning Follows Thick Smoke, Dark Skies Across Sonoma County From Burn

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Residents should stay indoors today as lingering smoke from an extinguished coastal prescribed burn continued moving inland, a day after dark, acrid smoke alarmed residents from Petaluma to Healdsburg.

Crews extinguished the burn near Bodega Bay that darkened skies Tuesday, but residual smoke was expected to persist into the evening, according to a warning this morning by Healdsburg officials.

Early Wednesday, residents were advised to avoid exposure to the "unhealthy air" from smoke by staying indoors if possible.

The warning follows a controlled burn on the Sonoma Coast scheduled for Tuesday on the same day that county officials issued a Spare the Air Alert for ozone.

Sonoma County Regional Parks partnered with CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit and Sonoma County Fire District on the controlled burn at Carrington Coast Ranch Regional Park and Open Space Preserve.

Officials warned that smoke and flames would be visible and said the burn would improve safety and help prevent uncontrolled fires.

Thick smoke drifted east Tuesday, turning skies smoky gray and raising concerns across the county.

Petaluma issued an alert at 4:30 p.m., saying smoke from coastal controlled burns was moving east and reporting no active fires.

At 6:35 p.m., Healdsburg fire officials identified the source of the smoke as a prescribed burn at Salmon Creek, on the coast north of Bodega, and said it posed no threat.

CAL FIRE’s Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit also reported a vegetation fire response in Sonoma County.

Sonoma County officials issued a health advisory Tuesday ahead of the burn, warning that western and central Sonoma County could experience air quality ranging from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Hazardous.” The advisory said high temperatures could worsen the effects of poor air quality.

Older adults, pregnant people, children, and people with heart or lung conditions face greater risks from air pollution, according to the advisory.

County health officials recommended the following precautions:

• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed if you can remain safely cool.
• Use a portable HEPA air cleaner if available, and set air conditioners and vehicle ventilation systems to recirculate.
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must go outside, wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask. People with heart or lung conditions should consult a healthcare provider before using one.
• Watch for coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, a scratchy throat, or unusual fatigue. Contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.
• Drink water throughout the day.
• Avoid smoking, wood burning, lawn mowing, driving, barbecuing, painting, and other activities that worsen air quality. Use a stove vent when cooking if possible.
• Check on neighbors, relatives, and others who may need help.
• Keep pets indoors when possible, and ensure farm animals have plenty of clean, fresh water.

Residents can monitor local conditions through PurpleAir, the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and EPA’s AirNow.

The county advisory said federally certified monitors on EPA’s AirNow Fires site provide the most accurate readings, though updates can lag by two to three hours.

Air quality can vary across Sonoma County, and officials urged residents to track conditions where they live and work.

Information about worker protections is available through Cal/OSHA’s wildfire smoke guidelines.