Wildfire Smoke Prompts Air Quality Advisory

BAY AREA, CA – Smoke from wildfires in Northern California prompted the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to extend an air quality advisory through Thursday in the San Francisco Bay Area.

According to the air district, wind is expected to blow smoke from the Mendocino Complex Fire and other wildfires into the North Bay and the inland East Bay on Monday and Tuesday, but the smoke is expected to stay aloft and not impact air quality at the ground level.

By Tuesday afternoon and into Wednesday, however, the smoke could drop to lower levels and be more widespread, according to the air district. Spare the Air alerts could be called mid-week if the air quality falls below federal standards, district officials said.

Officials advised Bay Area residents to avoid exposure to the smoke by staying inside with windows and doors closed and by setting air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from coming inside.

Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in people who suffer from asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure, officials said.

Click here for real-time air quality readings.

Photo by Ashley Ludwig/Patch