Unhealthy levels of air pollution that could be caused by the raging wildfire in Sonoma County led officials to issue a Spare the Air alert for Thursday and Friday.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued what are the 20th and 21st Spare the Air days in 2019 after monitoring the effects of the Kincade Fire.
The possible hazards of the smoke are already being seen in the Healdsburg area in Sonoma, said Walter Wallace, a spokesperson for Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
“We can expect impacts from the smoke moving south into the North Bay. Into tomorrow, [it] will be greater impacts to the Bay Area,” said Wallace.
The main concern is particles in the air from the smoke, which can irritate eyes and airways. The speed at which the pollution travels is determined by winds, which had been strong earlier on Thursday. Powerful winds are expected again this weekend.
“Our meteorologists are monitoring the situation very closely,” said Wallace. “So, if you are in the impacted area we encourage people to stay indoors, with the windows and doors closed.”
Individuals with respiratory issues are particularly vulnerable and are encouraged to take extra precautions when outside. It is also recommended that Bay Area residents set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate, to prevent outside air from moving inside.