LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local officials said air quality conditions are expected to be much improved on Tuesday following days of heavy smoke due to a wildland fire on Cow Mountain.
With firefighters making significant advances in controlling the Scotts Fire and favorable weather in the forecast, the Lake County Air Quality Management said air quality in the “good” range is expected on Tuesday.
Air quality conditions on Monday afternoon were notably improved over the weekend, the district reported, due primarily to better meteorological conditions and increasing control over the fire, which by Monday night had burned 4,618 acres, with containment at 35 percent.
Areas close to the fires may have experienced degraded air quality early Monday, but most areas of the Lake County experienced good to moderate air quality much of the day, according to county Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart.
Gearhart said levels of ozone and particulate were elevated, but did not exceed state health-based air quality standards.
The prediction is for “good“ air quality in Lake County, though areas near active burn areas and where cleanup efforts are under way may experience “moderate” air quality intermittently on Tuesday and until recovery efforts are complete, Gearhart said.
Despite the favorable forecast, Gearhart urged county residents to be cautious, as conditions can change rapidly.
Residual haze and particulate from the wildfires can be expected to intermittently impact areas of Lake County until the fires are out and recovery efforts are completed, Gearhart said.