FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 17, 2016
Contact:
Larry Allen, 805-781-5912
SLO County Air Pollution Control District
Dr. Penny Borenstein, 805-781-5500
SLO County Public Health Department
AIR QUALITY ALERT - SMOKE
IMPACTING SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, – The San Luis Obispo (SLO)
County Air Pollution Control District and County Health Department informs
individuals that air quality throughout San Luis Obispo County is being
impacted by smoke from wildfires. Skies are hazy and fine particulate (PM2.5)
concentrations are higher than normal due to transported smoke from the
fires. Changing winds and fire conditions make it difficult to predict
which areas of the county may be most affected; both coastal and inland areas
have been heavily impacted at different times and days. Thus, until the
fires are put out, smoke will likely be intermittently present in our
region. The Chimney Fire in San Luis Obispo County has been most active
from about 3 pm to 4 am, so smoke impacts in affected areas may be greatest
during this period.
If you smell smoke or see ash fall, County officials
recommend you take precautions and use common sense to reduce the harmful
health effects associated with smoke exposure. When smoke in the air is
obvious, individuals should avoid strenuous outdoor activity and remain indoors
as much as possible. These precautions are
particularly important for people with existing respiratory illness and heart
conditions and for the very young and the elderly as they are most vulnerable
to the health effects of declining air quality.
Levels of particulates in the smoke may be high enough
in some areas that even healthy people could be affected. If a cough,
shortness of breath, wheezing, exhaustion, light-headedness, or chest pain
occurs, outdoor activity should be stopped immediately and the affected person
should seek medical attention.
To clean ash, please do the following: use a damp
cloth and spray areas lightly with water, directing ash-filled water to ground
areas and away from the runoff system - do not use leaf blowers; take your
vehicle to the car wash; wash toys that have been outside in the ash; and clean
ash off pets. Due to its corrosive nature, avoid skin contact with the ash by
wearing gloves and long-sleeved shirts. Please note, if you have existing
heart or lung conditions, avoid doing ash clean-up yourself or anything else
that stirs the particles back up into the air. In addition, do not allow
children to play in the ash.
APCD and County officials will continue to closely
monitor smoke impacts and air quality in San Luis Obispo County. By
following the air quality index (AQI), the general public can also monitor
real-time air quality throughout SLO County. The AQI focuses on health
effects individuals may experience within a few hours or days after breathing
polluted air. The current AQI is available via the APCD website: http://www.slocleanair.org/air-quality/air-forecasting-map.php.
Sign up to receive the daily air quality forecast via email by subscribing
online at enviroflash.info.
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