LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Air Quality Management reported that the wildland fires around Northern California continue to be the source of the smoke and haze in the Lake County air basin.
Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the main fires generating the smoke impacting Lake County include the Lodge Complex in Mendocino County and other fires to the north.
Cal Fire said Friday night that the Lodge Complex, which was sparked by lightning on July 30, was at 5,400 acres and 30-percent containment.
To the north, the Eiler Fire in Shasta County has burned 32,048 acres and is 45-percent contained, and the Day Fire in Modoc County is 92-percent contained after burning 13,153 acres, Cal Fire reported.
Gearhart said current weather forecasts indicate light west winds should continue through the weekend, though north winds off the coast will continue to push smoke toward Lake County.
Smoke is expected to follow drainages and fan out into areas of the Northshore in the early morning hours and through the day, with some relief anticipated during the late afternoons and evenings, he said.
The current one hour average measurement in Lakeport is less than 50 percent of allowed federal health-based ultrafine particulate standards, which Gearhart said are designed to protect sensitive groups of the population from potentially harmful, respirable particulate and the ultrafine, inhalable particulate.
Gearhart said those 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, according to Gearhart.
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.
The air district, in conjunction with the Lake County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait, advises 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, Gearhart said.