For immediate release 8-18-16
Attn:
Local news, weather, health and assignment editors
|
Northern
region – Modesto
Anthony Presto (209) 557- 6472
Central region – Fresno
Cassandra Melching (559) 230-5901
Southern region – Bakersfield
Heather Heinks (559) 994-7591
Spanish-language contact
Maricela Velasquez (559) 230-5849
|
Update: Wildfires in
Kern, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey counties are impacting Valley air quality
The public may experience poor air
quality and should take action to protect their health
Smoke from the
Cedar Fire in Kern County, the Chimney Fire in San Luis Obispo County, and the
Soberanes Fire burning in Monterey County are affecting air quality in
locations throughout the San Joaquin Valley. Unusually high particulate matter
and ozone levels throughout the Valley are prompting Air District officials to
issue a health cautionary statement Valley-wide.
The wildfires
burning around the Valley coupled with high heat and a strong high pressure
system parked over the Valley are causing smoke emissions to remain trapped
within the air basin and spikes in particulate matter levels and ozone levels
are possible, particularly during the afternoon hours.
“The businesses
and residents of the Valley have done so much to reduce summertime pollution
that it is unfortunate when these wildfires overwhelm that great work,” stated
Seyed Sadredin, the District’s Executive Director/Air Pollution Control
Officer. “However, the public needs to be advised that while these fires burn
and bring smoke into the Valley, they need to take the appropriate steps to
protect their health.”
Air officials
are expecting these poor are quality conditions to continue into next week based
on the projected weather conditions and impacts from these wildfires will
continue to be a concern until the fires are extinguished.
Smoke
from wildfires produces particulate matter (PM) and contributes to the creation
of ozone, which can cause serious health problems including lung disease,
asthma attacks and increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. People with
existing respiratory conditions, young children and elderly people are
especially susceptible to health effects from these pollutants. Air District
officials urge residents to follow their doctors’ orders when exposed to
wildfire emissions and stay indoors if at all possible.
Please
be advised that the District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network (RAAN) monitors
are designed to detect the fine particulates (called PM 2.5 which are
microscopic in size and not visible to the human eye) that exist in wildfire
smoke. Ash particles are much larger in size and will not be detected by our
monitors. Therefore an area may be experiencing impacts from these wildfires
while the PM monitor reflects a moderate reading. If you can see or smell smoke
or ash, that is an indication that you should be treating air quality
conditions as “Unhealthy” and remain indoors.
Residents
can check the District’s wildfire page at www.valleyair.org/wildfires for information about any current
wildfires and whether they are impacting the Valley. Residents can also check
the nearest air monitor to their location to determine localized air-quality
conditions. Visit the Real-time Air Advisory Network to subscribe for free: www.valleyair.org/RAAN.
For
more information, visit www.valleyair.org or call a District office in Fresno
(559-230-6000), Modesto (209-557-6400) or Bakersfield (661-381-1809).
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