Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Advisory for Monterey County

 

Continuing wildfire activity involving the Timber and Plaskett Fires is generating smoke that is significantly impacting air quality in the Big Sur region and southern Monterey County.  Current Air Quality Index (AQI) measurements range from GOOD to VERY UNHEALTHY for communities directly downwind of the fires such as Lockwood, King City, San Ardo, Bradley, and Camp Roberts.  As of this advisory, modeling indicates the low-pressure system, which is generating westerly winds and smoke transport to the east, will be present until at least early next week; therefore, expect this pattern of smoke transport to continue until then. Air quality will be variable and unpredictable as conditions change depending on wind direction and fire activity.  The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) will continue to follow the situation and issue advisories when appropriate.

 

MBARD monitors air quality in our region.  Updates on the current air quality and information about the health effects of wildfire smoke can be found on the MBARD website at: https://www.mbard.org/wildfire-smoke-information-and-resources.  If you are being impacted by smoke, consider these guidelines:

• If the concentration of smoke reaches UNHEALTHY levels of the AQI, residents should limit their activity by staying indoors with the doors and windows closed to avoid breathing smoke. You may want to check with your health care provider to make sure it’s not necessary for you to leave the area.
• Use common sense. If it looks smoky outside, it’s probably not a good time to go for a run. And it’s probably not a good time for your children to play outdoors.
• Help lower particle levels inside your home. When smoke levels are high, avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves – even candles. Don’t vacuum as that stirs up particles already inside your home. And don’t smoke. That puts even more pollution in your lungs, and in the lungs of people around you.

• We ask residents to avoid adding more pollution to the air by limiting activities such as wood burning, driving, lawn mowing, and leaf blowing.

 

Health Effects of Smoke:

Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic matter burn. The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles. These fine particles are especially harmful to the very young, very old, and to people with heart and lung disease.  Further information about the health effects of wildfire smoke can be found on the EPA website:  https://www.airnow.gov/wildfires.