LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With wildland fires burning in neighboring counties and other parts of Northern California, Lake County residents are seeing hazy skies overhead.
Fires have begun burning over the last few days in Sonoma, Napa and Glenn counties, but the Lake County Air Quality Management District reported Thursday that one fire in particular – the Panther Fire, burning in Tehama County – is resulting in smoke, haze and degraded air quality for Lake County.
Cal Fire said Thursday morning that the Panther fire had burned 2,000 acres and was 10-percent contained, with no estimate given yet on when the fire is expected to reach full containment. The fire is burning in steep terrain and being driven by gusty down-canyon winds.
Lake County Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart reported that weather forecasts indicate mixed
conditions that may cause intermittent smoke impacts for the Lake County air basin over the next four to five days. Calm conditions overnight are likely to result in smoke settling in the basin.
He said air quality conditions on Wednesday were good much of the day, with several hours of noticeable smoke intrusion in the evening and overnight.
Ozone and particulate levels are elevated, but have not exceeded state health-based air quality standards. Localized areas may experience higher ozone and particulate levels depending on the weather conditions, Gearhart said.
The prediction for the weekend is for “moderate “ to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” air quality in Lake County. Gearhart said all areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen. Smoke impacts are most likely to occur during the overnight hours.
Smokey conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individuals including young children, the elderly, and individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions, Gearhart said.
He urged people to remember to take precautions and plan ahead as smoke conditions can change quickly.
The “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” air quality alert results from fine particulate in the smoke and ground level ozone. These are generated when combustion products in the smoke combine with the high temperatures, sunlight and humidity, Gearhart said. Other chemical reactions reduce visibility by forming secondary particulates.
Poor air quality, haze and particulate from the ongoing wildfires are expected to continue throughout Lake County over the weekend, depending on weather conditions and containment of the Panther Fire, Gearhart said.