Numerous lightning-strikes caused fires result in smoke, haze and degraded air quality.
Air quality was greatly degraded this past weekend by haze resulting from smoke and weather patterns. Lightning on Friday night and Saturday morning caused more than 60 lightning-strike-fires in Mendocino County and 50 more in Humboldt. The Cal-Fire, Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit reported controlling all fires except for one, in Napa north of Fairfield, which had grown to 3,500 acres on Sunday.
In Mendocino County several largely uncontrolled fires are burning, the Navarro at 1,400 acres and Table Mountain at 1,000 acres are the largest. A reported 90 fires account for 5,000 acres in Mendocino. Humboldt is reporting some 50 fires though lesser in size.
The poor air quality results directly from these dispersed, numerous wildfires within the California Coastal Mountains. Smoke is trapped in the cooler marine air layer and transported inland, causing the present smoke impacts. At times smoke can be transported to sea within a circulation cell, and then return back over northern California in a wide band of smoke-filled air.
The smoke and sunlight cause chemical reactions in the air that further reduce visibility by forming secondary particles aside from the smoke. These particles draw the moisture out of the air, growing in number and size, making the haze even worse.
Specific air health standards are nearing exceeded and abnormally high.
People who sensitive to respiratory irritants or who have a respiratory illness are being advised to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary exercise. If air conditioners are utilized, they should be placed on re-circulation. People who suffer from asthma or pulmonary disease, or have other health problems, should consult their health care professional if they experience any health problems.
