Shasta County
Air Quality Management District Health and Human Services Agency
1855 Placer Street, Suite101 2615 Breslauer Way, Building 5
Redding, California 96001 Phone: (530) 225-5674 Redding, CA 96001 (530) 225-5970
FAX (530) 225-5237 FAX (530) 229-8447
P R E S S R E L E A S E
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 16, 2018
Contact: Air Quality Management District, 225-5674
Tim Mapes, Community Education Specialist, (530) 245-6863 
For the Weekend Period of November 16th-18th
Air Quality and Public Health officials encourage daily attention to air quality due to smoke from the Camp Fire
SHASTA COUNTY – The Shasta County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the Public Health Branch of the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency would like to remind the public that, due to decreased northerly winds, smoke being generated by the Camp Fire in Butte County, has begun to enter portions of Shasta County. It is important to check air quality levels when making daily plans. Conditions can change quickly and can also vary in different areas of the county based on elevation, topography and the direction of winds. These changing conditions will continue until the fire is under control, making the habit of checking air quality a practice that should be done frequently.
Based on predicted weather patterns; particulate matter levels within areas on the eastern side of the Sacramento Valley, as well as Redding, Anderson and Shasta Lake City are expected to reach UNHEALTHY (AQI 151-200 range). Conditions may improve slightly as the day progresses however, smoke is expected to accumulate in the Sacramento Valley due to stagnant weather conditions. This pattern is expected to remain in place through Saturday. Gusty Northeast winds are predicted for Saturday evening through Sunday which may result in improved smoke conditions.
For other areas in Shasta County, particulate matter readings are predicted to be anywhere on the Air Quality Index from GOOD (AQI 0-50), MODERATE (AQI 51-100 range), UNHEALTHY for SENSITIVE GROUPS (AQI 101-150 range), or UNHEALTHY (AQI 151 to 200 range). All members of the public, especially those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, pregnant women, and children should remain alert, and if necessary, reduce or avoid all outdoor exertion when wildfire smoke is present. When levels are not favorable, everyone else should limit prolonged exertion in areas of noticeable smoke accumulation. Individuals wishing to minimize their exposure should:
• Limit exercise and outdoor activities
• Remain indoors with the windows and doors closed
• Turn on an air conditioner with a recirculation setting (such as in a vehicle)
The Air Quality Management District operates one air quality monitor in Anderson that continuously monitors for fine particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in size (PM2.5).
The AQI readings from the fixed monitor are updated hourly and are available at the following website: www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/drm_index/aq_index/aq_map.aspx
Additionally, the air district has deployed experimental particulate matter (smoke) sensors throughout Shasta County. These sensors are not official monitors but can be used to help gauge smoke levels in particular locations. When accessing this data, it is advisable to switch the Map Data Layer dialogue box in the lower left hand corner from “None” to “AQ and U”. This will apply a correction factor that will make the readings relate more closely to the official air quality data. They can be accessed at:
For additional information and updates, you may visit the Air Quality Management District Wildfire Smoke Webpage at: https://www.co.shasta.ca.us/index/drm_index/aq_index/aq_wildfire.aspx or call 225-5674.
Additional safety tips can be found by going to www.shastahhsa.net and by clicking the “wildfire smoke link under our current health concerns”.
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