LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The smoke coming since Wednesday from the Rocky fire has degraded air quality over much of Lake County, leading officials on Friday evening to issue an alert for moderate to unhealthy air quality conditions over the coming days.
Smoke and haze from the fire has spread across much of Lake County, with ash falling in areas including the Northshore on Friday.
Weather forecasts indicate moderate to poor conditions which may result in regular smoke impacts for the Lake County air basin through the weekend.
The Lake County Quality Management District reported that air quality conditions on Friday ranged from moderate to unhealthy, with noticeable smoke intrusion and ash fall throughout the county. Ultrafine particulate levels are elevated into the moderate to unhealthy ranges.
Some areas may experience intermittent particulate levels in the hazardous range, depending on the weather conditions, the air quality district reported.
Those areas of particular concern include Clearlake and Lower Lake, which the district said have been heavily impacted, with air quality in the moderate to unhealthy for all ranges.
Hidden Valley Lake experienced air quality that was unhealthy for sensitive individuals, but has returned to the good to moderate air quality range, the district said.
Lakeport and Kelseyville are in the range that's unhealthy for sensitive individuals, with district officials anticipating air quality to return to the moderate range.
Most of the Northshore and Cobb areas have been in the moderate to unhealthy range, according to the the district.
Conditions changed quickly on Friday from good to unhealthy, and this may be the pattern for the next few days, the district reported.
The district said the air quality forecast for Lake County for the weekend is moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individuals, with localized higher concentration areas possible. All areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen.
Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait advised area residents to be cautious in resuming normal outdoor activities.
“Variable weather conditions and ongoing fire activity may result in localized areas of reduced air quality, which could still pose health and where ‘pockets’ of poorer air quality may occur, it is prudent to be careful until conditions stabilize,” Tait said.
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 and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications.
They 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.
Dust masks are not protective against the most harmful pollutants caused by wildfire smoke that drifts to nearby areas. They are useful in filtering out the ash and larger particles that are encountered in burn areas.
Air purifying respirators, such as N-95 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing harmful particulate matter, but also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologic stress, and are not recommended as a general protective measure.
The air quality alert for conditions that are moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individuals results from fine particulates in the smoke and the possibility of increased ground level ozone. These are generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with the high temperatures, sunlight and humidity. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates.
Poor air quality, haze and particulate from the ongoing wildfires are expected to continue throughout Lake County through the weekend, officials said.
Officials issue air quality alert due to Rocky fire impacts
- Lake County News reports
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