The Effects of California Wildfires on our Air Quality

With new fires erupting while older ones still burn, the West Coast is experiencing record wildfires this fire season.

Dozens of homes across Fresno, Napa, and Sonoma counties have burned and hundreds were evacuated from their homes.

These fires surrounding the Valley are affecting us heavily, not only in nature and property loss, but also in air quality. Air pollutant PM2.5 comes from residential wood smoke and fire combustion.

According to Cassandra Melching with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, these are the pollutants that officials warn people should limit their exposure to as much as possible.

“It’s so small it can travel deep into the lungs. It can get to your bloodstream. It triggers asthma attacks, heart attacks. Anybody who has any type of respiratory issues would definitely feel the effects of that, so it was important that we notify the public to please stay indoors and take every precaution to protect your health and limit your exposure,” Melching said.

And while officials understand that some may have to continue to go outside for various reasons, they encourage people to check the current air quality index, or AQI, in their local area before they head outside.

“If you’re looking at the AQI, anything 150 and below would be fine for individuals that do not have underlying conditions. Or if they have asthma, anything 100 and below is going to be fine for them,” said Melching.

The Valley Air Pollution Control District also is suggest that people regularly check their AC filters and vehicle cabin filters. Those filters are capturing all of those pollutants from outside.

To hear more about how to keep yourself safe during this fire season, watch the full interview with Melching here.