Smoke from the Red Salmon fire | Image from Inciweb

Press release from the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQMD) and partners:

Several fires continue to impact our region with smoke: Red Salmon Complex, August Complex, Slater/Devil Fire and Zogg and Glass Fires. USFS Air Resource Advisors (ARAs) are assigned to fires impacting our area and provide daily smoke outlook forecasts within our jurisdiction. No Air Quality ALERTs have been issued today. Air quality monitors and current AQI can be viewed at https://fire.airnow.gov.

Smoke conditions today (10/3) are expected to be similar to yesterday. Ongoing fires will continue to produce abundant smoke, and air quality and visibility will be poor near the fires. High pressure continues to dominate, and smoke produced by active fires will collect in low spots and valleys near the fires during nights and mornings, and not disperse very well during afternoons. Onshore flow is expected to bring some relief to coastal communities this weekend. Conditions in locations near the fires are expected to remain Very Unhealthy to Hazardous.

A weak low pressure trough will approach the region Saturday, but at this time it is not expected to not be deep enough to greatly improve smoke dispersion condition. Tomorrow (10/4), smoke is expected to be similar to today. Little change or improvement in smoke dispersion is expected from Sunday through Tuesday.

Humboldt County – An Air Quality ALERT is issued today for Hoopa and Weitchpec. An ADVISORY is issued today for Orleans and Willow Creek.

  • Eureka (including Rio Dell to Trinidad) – Overall Good to Moderate conditions depending on location.
  • Orleans – Overall Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy conditions expected today.
  • Weitchpec – Hazardous conditions expected today. 
  • Hoopa –Hazardous conditions expected today.
  • Willow Creek – Overall Very Unhealthy to even Hazardous conditions expected today. 
  • Bridgeville – Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups with periods of Unhealthy conditions. 
  • Garberville & Redway – Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups with possible Unhealthy periods.

Del Norte County – No Air Quality ADVISORY issued today.

  • Crescent City – Good to Moderate conditions. 
  • Gasquet – Good to Moderate conditions.
  • Klamath – Overall Moderate with periods Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

Trinity County – An Air Quality ADVISORY is issued today for Weaverville, Hayfork, Trinity Pines, Ruth, Zenia-Kettenpom areas.

  • Weaverville and surrounding communities – Unhealthy with periods of Very Unhealthy conditions this afternoon.
  • Hayfork – Overall Very Unhealthy with periods of even Hazardous conditions in afternoon. 
  • Trinity Center – Overall Unhealthy conditions, worsening toward afternoon.
  • Ruth, Zenia-Kettenpom – Unhealthy to even Hazardous conditions expected, depending on fire activity.
  • Trinity Pines – Unhealthy to even Hazardous conditions expected, depending on fire activity

Particulate Matter (PM2.5) monitors are located in Crescent City, Gasquet, Eureka, Fortuna, Weaverville, Hoopa, Weitchpec, Willow Creek, Klamath, Trinity Center, Bridgeville, and Garberville.

Updates will be provided as conditions change. Fire information can be found at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ or https://fire.airnow.gov/. Current weather information can be found at www.wrh.noaa.gov.

As with all wildfires, ash fallout is possible depending on fire activity and proximity to the fires. Ash fallout information can be found in the Wildfire Smoke Resources section of our webpage at www.ncuaqmd.org.

Health Information for Smoke Impacts Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and distance from the fire. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults. These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.

Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event: 

  • Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
  •  Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible. 
  • Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems. 
  • Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors. Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
  • Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.

If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your doctor if you have symptoms that worsen. Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have repeated coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness.

Updated guidance from the CDC is available on reducing wildfire smoke exposure given COVID-19 considerations: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/covid-19/reduce_exposure_to_wildfire_smoke_covid-19.html.

For further information, visit the District’s website at www.ncuaqmd.org or call the District’s Wildfire Response Coordinator at (707) 443-3093, x122.