Full Notification

LAKE COUNTY AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT Douglas G. Gearhart Air Pollution Control Officer [email protected] Fax (707) 263-0421 2617 South Main Street Lakeport, CA 95453 Phone (707) 263-7000
July 28, 2018 @ 1:30pm The smoke and haze currently impacting all areas of Lake County are primarily the result of the River Fire and Ranch Fire in Mendocino County. Other active fires in Northern California and Oregon may add to the smoke impacts in Lake County. The “UNHEALTHY” to “VERY UNHEALTHY” air quality alert results from the Heavy smoke conditions experienced in Lake County and the forecast for extendedsmokeimpacts,andimpactsfromotherairpollutantsinthesmokelingeringin Lake County until conditions change. TheDistrictisactivelymonitoringthesmokeimpacts.CurrentparticulatelevelsinLake County are in the range from “Unhealthy” to “Very Unhealthy” in the Lakeport / West Countyareasand“UnhealthyforSensitiveIndividuals”to“Unhealthy”airqualityinthe EasternandSouthernportionsoftheCounty.Thehigherlevelsofsmokeareexpectedto continue through the weekend. With the expected weather conditions smoke levels are expected to degrade. All areas may experience “Very Unhealthy” air quality, and individuals should take precautions. The smoke is expected to remain in Lake County throughtheweekend,thoughwemayseeperiodsofvariableairqualityasthewindsshift through the next few days. Conditionscanchangequickly.Smokeyconditionscancauseirritationoftheeyes,nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individual including children, the elderly, individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory conditions. Individuals with asthma,bronchitis,emphysemaandotherlungorheartdiseasesshouldcarefullyadhereto their medical treatment plans and maintain at least a five-day supply of prescribed medications.Theyshouldlimitoutdooractivityandunnecessaryphysicalexertionwhile smoke is present. Air conditioning that recirculates indoor air should be used, when available.Drinkingplentyofwatertoavoiddryingoftheairwaysisrecommended,unless restricted for medical reasons. Ifyoucannotleavethesmokyarea,goodwaystoprotectyourlungsfrom wildfiresmoke
CONTACT: July 28, 2018 RELEASE DATE:
AIR QUALITY ALERT for Saturday, July 28, 2018 Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy Air Quality for Lake County.
Douglas Gearhart, APCO @ 263-7000
TIME:01:30 PM
- Page 1 of 2 
Public Info Release Cont’d - UNHEALTHY AIR ALERT
7/28/2018 01:30 PM include staying indoors and reducing physical activity. Wearing an air purifying respiratorcanalsohelpprotectyourlungsfromwildfiresmoke. Airpurifyingrespirators, such as N-95 or P100 filtering face pieces, may be effective in reducing some of the harmful particulate matter, but they also increase the work of breathing, can lead to physiologicstress,andarenotrecommendedasageneralprotectivemeasure. Dustmasks arenotprotectiveagainsttheultrafineparticulate,whichisthepollutantmostdetrimental to health caused by wildfire smoke. Withairqualityforecasttobeinthe“Unhealthy”to“VeryUnhealthy”range,peopleare recommended to use caution, avoid strenuous activity, avoid outdoor activities, and reduceothersourcesofairpollution(suchassmoking,useofaerosolproducts,fryingor broiling meats, burning candles, vacuuming, etc.) and be prepared for rapidly changing conditions.Localizedareasofveryunhealthyorhazardousairquality,regionalhaze,and particulatefromthesefirescanbeexpecteduntiltheregionalfiresarefullycontainedand theweatherpatternshiftstoclearthesmoke.Takeappropriatemeasuresuntilthesmoke clears.