Layer Of Unhealthy Wildfire Smoke Blankets San Francisco Bay Area
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- Bay Area residents awoke Monday to the strong smell of smoke as a layer of unhealthy air from local wildfires drifted over the region from San Francisco to Oakland and the East Bay communities, triggering warnings from health officials.
"The air is supposed to be normal. But since there's fires everywhere, it feels different," Everardo Camacho, a second grader at Fairmont Elementary in El Cerrito.
Everardo and his older brother Willy both wore N-95 air masks when their aunt picked them up after officials with the West Contra Costa Unified School District cancelled class at noon because of concerns about air quality.
The local largest wildfire was the Kincade Fire burning in Wine Country, 60 miles of north of the Bay Area. The fire, which has forced nearly 200,000 local residents to evacuate, grew to 66,231 acres by early Monday, destroying 96 structures, including 40 homes.
The highest concentration of unhealthy air was parked over the East Bay. According to PurpleAir tracking's 8 a.m. reading, there was an extremely unhealthy level of 171 over Berkeley, 170 over Richmond and 165 over the Oakland hills.
Power outages and poor air quality have prompted the West Contra Costa Unified School District to shorten the school day Monday and dismiss students at noon.
"We do have several older schools that we're concerned about. We have school that weren't built with air conditioning an re-circulation systems in place," said Marcus Walton, the district's Communications Director.
Health officials are urging residents of western and central Contra Costa County to stay indoors and limit outdoor activity to avoid exposure to poor air conditions caused by wildfires throughout the region.
A health advisory issued for parts of east county Sunday has been lifted, but air quality measurements further west were determined to be unhealthy and those conditions may migrate to other parts of the county if the wind shifts.
Contra Costa Health Services has said that wearing a mask is not an effective alternative for staying indoors. People should keep their doors and windows closed, and use an air filter if possible.
"We don't have any masks that fit children. And they can't seal if you have facial hair. But if it's well sealed and you don't feel short of breath, then you should get more benefit from wearing a mask than not," said Dr. Sara Cody, the County Health Officer in Santa Clara County.
All after-school programs, extracurricular activities and sporting events have been canceled.
District officials are monitoring air quality and will provide updates as necessary as the week continues.
Along San Francisco's waterfront the levels ranged from a high of a hazardous level of 157 to 149 in the avenues of the Richmond District. The farther south you traveled Monday, the better the air quality became including a healthy 18 reading in Santa Clara and a 5 in Mountain View.
Near Crockett where the Sky Fire was 90 percent contained after burning 150 acres Sunday, trapping frightened motorists on the busy I-80 freeway, the readings were topping 200 on the PurpleAir scale.
Bay Area air quality officials declared Monday another a Spare-the-Air day, asking local residents to take public transit and refrain from using their fireplaces. By around 12:30 p.m., the agency issued an additional Spare the Air alert for Tuesday.
Health officials were also concerned about residents with respiratory needs because large swaths of the Bay Area were without electrical power because of Pacific Gas & Electric preventive power outages. What that meant for asthma suffers, for example, is their home purifiers to filter out the smoke were not functional.
Residents were reminded to keep cool and hydrated when the weather is hot and the air quality is poor.
When there is heavy smoke, residents should stay inside with windows and doors closed until it subsides. It is also recommended that air-conditioning units and car vent systems be set to re-circulate.
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.
To find out when a Spare the Air Alert is in effect, residents can 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.
