Smoke From Wildfires Continues To Affect Northern California

BAY AREA, CA – Air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area continues to be unhealthy, especially in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, after several wildfires ravaging the North Bay caused record-breaking air pollution in the region, air district officials said.

With continued heavy smoke from several wildfires still affecting parts of the Bay Area, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for the North Bay and East Bay. A health advisory and Spare the Air alert is in effect for the entire region through Wednesday.

"Air quality in the Bay Area continues to be very unhealthy, especially in the fire-impacted counties of Napa, Sonoma and Solano," air district officials said. "Due to active wildfires and changing wind patterns, air quality will be unpredictable and could impact the Bay Area."

Several fires sparked Oct. 8 in Napa and Sonoma counties, with some flames also spreading to part of Solano County.

Officials recommended Bay Area residents, especially people in Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties, to stay inside buildings with filtered air, such as public libraries and shopping malls. Another option is to leave the area until smoke levels subside.

Also See: Napa Residents Come Home To Rubble, Devastation

People in fire-impacted counties who must remain in the area are advised to use an N95 mask to help minimize breathing harmful particles in smoke.

Airborne ash is expected to impact the fire areas for months. Temporary monitors have been set up in Napa, Sonoma, Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Cordelia to measure particulate matter.

Residents who see or smell smoke in their immediate area should stay indoors, if possible, with the windows and doors closed and air conditioning units on recirculate to avoid drawing outside air into buildings.

Because of the serious air quality conditions in parts of the Bay Area, air district officials have also asked residents to avoid activities that can add to the air pollution, such as wood burning, lawn mowing, leaf blowing, driving and barbecuing.

Spare the Air alerts are issued when smog is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. 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 smog can reduce the functioning of someone's lungs.

Children, the elderly and people with respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema and heart disease are most impacted.

Click here for real-time air quality readings.

Previous:

• Record-Breaking Air Pollution Affects Northern California
• Heavy Smoke Blanketing NorCal Not Safe To Breathe, Air District Says

Photo: Eric Risberg/Associated Press