Staff reports
Lake County >> Several fires active in Northern and Central California and Southern Oregon are generating smoke and impacting Lake County air quality. The main fires generating the smoke include the Lodge Fire in Mendocino County and other fires to the north.
Current weather forecasts indicate light west winds should continue through the weekend, which will positively affect the air quality; however, north winds offshore will continue to push smoke toward Lake County, according to a joint press statement from the Lake County Health Department and Lake County Quality Air Management District.
Smoke is expected to follow drainages and fan out into areas of the North Shore in the early morning hours and throughout the day, with some relief anticipated during the late afternoons and evenings.
The current one-hour average measurement in Lakeport is less than 50 percent of allowed federal health-based ultrafine particulate standards, designed to protect sensitive groups of the population from potentially harmful, respirable particulate and the ultrafine, inhalable, particulate. These levels are expected to increase at times, localized areas may reach levels that are unhealthy for sensitive individuals or unhealthy for everyone.
Regional weather patterns suggest continued smoke impacts until the fires are contained.
Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages, which can be hazardous in young children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions or chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. Individuals with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and other lung or heart diseases should carefully adhere to their medical treatment plans, according to the statement.
The air district, in conjunction with the Lake County Public Health officer advise that all individuals with cardiac or respiratory disease and anyone who is especially sensitive to air pollution, including young children, should limit outdoor activity and unnecessary physical exertion. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available. Drinking plenty of water to avoid drying of the airways is recommended, unless restricted for medical reasons.
Regional haze and particulate from these fires are expected to continue throughout Lake County until the fires are out.
