LAKE COUNTY — The blue sky and mountainous horizon characteristic of Lake County are back in view, thanks to southwest winds that cleared out smoke from fires in and around the county during the weekend, according to a Monday press release from the Lake County Air Quality Management District.
While numbers were not available at press time, ambient air quality levels are back to being within allowable limits, according to the release. Smoke from more than 100 fires in the Mendocino Lightning Complex is still the most likely to impact Lake County”s air quality of the fires raging in Northern California, according to the release.
“All levels are below all standards, because the southwest winds blew everything out of our air basin,” Senior Air Quality Engineer Cheri Kendrick said.
The favorable wind is expected to continue through Wednesday, but a west to northwest wind could bring smoke from Mendocino County back to Lake County”s air basin if the wind shifts later in the week. The northern wind is the prevailing wind in our area, Kendrick said.
The Soda Complex north of Lake County could also send smoke Lake County”s way if the wind shifts, according to Kendrick. The blaze consumed 4,970 acres and was 55 percent contained as of Monday morning, according to information found at www.fire.ca.gov.
Meanwhile, CAL Fire reported that the Walker Fire in the Indian Valley Reservoir area near the Lake-Colusa county line was 100 percent contained as of Sunday morning, and “aggressive mop-up” was under way. The blaze consumed 14,500 acres after the metal undercarriage of a passing vehicle struck a rock and ignited the fire June 22, according to CAL Fire.
Voluntary evacuations for the Double Eagle Ranch, Bear Valley Ranch and Wilbur Hot Springs subdivisions were lifted Sunday.
Lake County Air Pollution Control Officer Bob Reynolds said Lake County had it better than other air basins. He used the example of Butte County, where hazardous warnings were issued and pollutant levels were eight times the allowable limit. When last reported June 24, Lake County”s pollutant levels were between 155 to 223 percent over the state limit.
“I”ve heard a lot from people say, ?it sure is nice to have our blue sky back,”” Reynolds said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
