LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Fair Board of Directors has adopted a policy that will make most of the Lake County Fairground smoke-free.

A committee was formed by the Board and, with the assistance of the Lake County Tobacco Education Program, a program of Lake Family Resource Center, all County Fairgrounds located in California were surveyed to determine current policies regarding smoking.

Currently, there are 11 county fairs located in California that have smoke-free policies: Del Norte, Humboldt, Marin, Butte, San Mateo, Siskiyou, Sonoma, El Dorado, San Diego, Amador and Lassen. Most are completely smoke-free, while a few have designated smoking areas.

In adopting the smoke-free policy, the Lake County Fair Board of Directors stated that it is becoming increasingly important to protect the health of fairgoers, especially children.

As more research is released showing the danger of exposure to second- and third-hand smoke, the board felt that adopting the policy was a logical first step to show that protecting Lake County residents is a community effort.

New signage, provided by the Lake County Tobacco Education Program, through funds received from the California Department of Health, Proposition 99 will be posted to show those areas designated smoke-free.

The new policy states that no smoking areas/zones are designated as follows:

• All fair entrances.

• Kiddie carnival area.

• Covered grandstands.

• Livestock barns and surrounding barn and show ring areas.

• Within 20 feet of all buildings.

• Within 20 feet of Gazebo Stage area.

• Within 20 feet of food and drink vendors.

• Entire walkway between Gazebo Stage to the end of the Flower Building.

During the 2011 Lake County Fair, taking place Sept. 1-4, Lake County Tobacco Education Program staff and volunteers will be at the fair to answer questions and distribute postcards, in English and Spanish, to explain the new policy.

In addition, they will have a booth in front of the Theater Building with resources and information about quitting smoking.

For further information regarding the smoke-free policy, call Lake Family Resource Center, Tobacco Education Program at 707-262-1379, Extension 112 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For information regarding quitting smoking, including free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (patches), call the California Smokers HelpLine at 1.800.NO.BUTTS.