LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Air Quality District on Wednesday said that air quality conditions have continued to degrade as a result of the large wildland fires burning around the North Coast.
Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart issued an air quality alert warning of “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” to “unhealthy for everyone” conditions due to continued high levels of smoke and other air pollutants lingering in Lake County.
Gearhart said the smoke and haze currently visible through areas of Lake County are primarily the result of the Tubbs fire in Napa and Sonoma counties, the Atlas and Partrick fires in Napa County, the Nuns Fire and Pocket fires in Sonoma County, the Mendocino County Complex fire in Mendocino County, and localized impacts from the Sulphur fire in Lake County.
He said other active fires in Northern California may add to the smoke impacts in Lake County.
The Sulphur fire was being held at 2,500 acres with containment at 40 percent, according to Cal Fire.
The Tubbs fire’s approach to Lake County had prompted an advisory evacuation notice from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday morning.
The sheriff’s office issued another advisory evacuation for the Lake Pillsbury Basin on Wednesday afternoon because of the growth of the Mendocino County Complex.
Gearhart said current particulate levels in Lake County have been in the “unhealthy” range in many areas with short periods of improved air quality since late afternoon on Monday.
He said the highest levels of smoke are expected to continue into Thursday, though the air quality monitoring models indicate Lake County may get clearing winds from Wednesday through Thursday, which could significantly improve local air quality.
However, those same winds could increase fire activity locally and around the region, and are the reason for a red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service that’s in effect until 5 p.m. Thursday, as Lake County News has reported.
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