Today, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing a health advisory and Spare the Air Alert.

Very unhealthy air quality from the wildfires in the North Bay is causing unprecedented levels of air pollution throughout the Bay Area. Due to active wildfires and changing wind patterns, air quality could be impacted for many days to come. Outside of the active fire areas, air quality will be variable and unpredictable. Air quality may improve at times or get worse, very quickly.

It is imperative that Bay Area residents protect their health, especially in Napa and Sonoma counties. If possible, it is recommended that residents impacted by heavy smoke seek shelter in buildings with filtered air OR move to areas outside the region less impacted by wildfire smoke until smoke levels subside.

In other parts of the Bay Area, residents should protect themselves from the impacts of heavy smoke. If residents see or smell smoke in their immediate area, avoid outdoor activity including exercise. 

It is recommended that parents and school administrators check air quality readings before allowing children to practice outdoor sports while air quality is unhealthy.  Check here for real-time air quality readings https://go.usa.gov/xnxhb.

If possible, stay indoors with windows and doors closed and air conditioning units on recirculate to avoid drawing outside air into buildings. Children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, emphysema and heart disease are most impacted.

Because of the serious air quality conditions in parts of the Bay Area, we are asking residents to avoid adding additional air pollution by curtailing air ­­­polluting activities such as wood burning, lawn mowing and leaf blowing, driving, and barbecuing.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay
Area. Connect with the Air District via Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
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Do not reply directly to this email. If you want more information on the air quality forecast, or other aspects of the local air quality program, please contact your local air quality agency using the information above. For more information on the U.S. EPA's AIRNow Program, visit http://www.airnow.gov.

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