Bay Area Air: Smoke And Smog Extends Record Breaking Air Alerts

BAY AREA, CA — As poor air quality in the Bay Area continued to keep residents from enjoying outdoor activities on Labor Day weekend, another Spare the Air alert was issued for a record breaking third week. The alert comes amid warnings of another dangerous heatwave that struck California over the weekend.

The alerts are the 20th and 21st consecutive alerts issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Recently, the alerts were prompted by smoke from the massive lightning complex fires burning in Northern California.

As fires continue to be a factor, unhealthy levels of smog or ozone are expected to accumulate through the holiday weekend, air district officials warned.

"Though wildfire smoke has subsided significantly and air quality has improved over the past few days, high temperatures and tailpipe exhaust are expected to cause unhealthy smog this holiday weekend," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Air District.

As high temperatures pose multiple threats to air quality and starting new wildfires, smoke from the Woodward Fire in Marin County was also expected to worsen air quality in southern Marin County, San Francisco, portions of the East Bay and potentially Vallejo, officials said.

Bay Area residents are encourage to reduce driving and avoid smoke exposure when the smell of smoke is present, Broadbent said.

Residents in locations with smoky or unhealthy air are advised to stay inside with windows and doors closed and to set air conditioning units to re-circulate.

Smog, can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. Long-term exposure to ozone can reduce lung function.

Smoke inhalation or ozone pollution is particularly harmful for young children with developing lungs. Seniors and those with respiratory and heart conditions should also take extra care.

When a Spare the Air Alert is issued, outdoor exercise should be done only in the early morning hours when ozone concentrations are lower. Residents are also banned from igniting wood burning fires inside or outside their homes.

Bay City News contributed to this report.