Spare the Air Alert extended through Tuesday

Northerly winds are expected to transport smoke from the August Complex and Red Salmon Complex fires into the region. While onshore winds will continue to blow smoke out of much of the Bay Area, smoke impacts are possible throughout the region. It is illegal for Bay Area residents and businesses to use their fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert for particulate pollution.

Spare the Air Alerts are issued when ozone or particulate matter pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. If smoke reaches unhealthy levels, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside, if temperatures allow. If temperatures are too hot indoors, visit an air-cooling center or other building that provides filtered air. It is also recommended that those impacted by smoke set their air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside.

Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD. Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.

Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new Fire and Smoke Map for current air quality readings.

A list of simple things the public can do to reduce air pollution:

• Reduce driving
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn mowers and leaf blowers
• Cook indoors, not on the barbecue

To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can sign up for text alerts by texting the word “START” to 817-57, register for email AirAlerts at www.sparetheair.org, call 1(800) HELP-AIR, download the Spare the Air App or connect with Spare the Air on Facebook or Twitter.

Check the Air District's Current Air Quality page for real-time air quality readings.

View press release(152 Kb PDF, 2 pgs, posted 10/10/2020).

View Wildfire Safety web page.