Bay Area Air District issues advisory for wildfire smoke

SAN FRANCISCO — The Bay Area Air District on Thursday issued an air quality advisory due to smoke from wildfires burning in the northern Sacramento Valley area.

The advisory runs through Friday.

Smoke from the Butler and Green fires has been moving down the Sacramento Valley and is expected to impact air quality in the eastern portion of the Bay Area and down to Santa Clara Valley on Thursday and Friday, according to the air district.

The air district said conditions can change rapidly, and the amount and location of smoke at ground level are hard to predict, but the public can check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s fire and smoke map for real-time pollution levels.

“Smoky, hazy skies may be visible, the smell of smoke is possible and air quality may become unhealthy at times on Thursday and Friday,” the air district said in the advisory.

Exposure to wildfire smoke, which contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants, is unhealthy even for short periods of time, according to the air district.

Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.

The air district urged Bay Area residents to stay inside with windows and doors closed — if possible and temperatures allow — until smoke levels subside. Residents can also reduce their exposure to smoke by setting their car ventilation systems to recirculate, using indoor air filtration or going to a facility with filtered air.

As of Thursday evening, the Green Fire in Shasta County had burned 5,618 acres and the Butler Fire, part of the Orleans Complex in Del Norte and Siskiyou counties, had charred 3,615 acres, according to fire officials. Both wildfires were 0% contained.

Check back for updates.