Triple-digit temperatures and smoke from the Woodside Fire are combining to worsen air quality across the Sacramento Valley, prompting health concerns as the region heads into the weekend.<\/p>\n
Air quality officials say smoke drifting from the Sonoma County wildfire, along with prolonged heat, is expected to create unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups.<\/p>\n
“We are expecting it to be unhealthy for sensitive groups through the weekend,” said Janice Lam Snyder, director of the Office of Community Air Protection and Monitoring. “However, it’s important to note that wildfire smoke and impacts can change very quickly.”<\/p>\n
Officials said winds are carrying smoke from the Woodside Fire into the valley and foothills, while the hot weather is also contributing to poor air quality.<\/p>\n
“The heat along with smoke can cause higher concentrations of smog,” Snyder said. “It’s like a mix of the chemistry that increases the ground-level ozone, the smog that’s in the air.”<\/p>\n
For Sacramento resident Xavier Guiraud, the forecast means adjusting his family’s weekend plans.<\/p>\n
“I am usually concerned about the air quality, if my kids can go out and do activities outdoors,” Guiraud said. “So I usually check if the quality is good or bad, and if it’s bad, I would ask them not to go out.”<\/p>\n
Snyder said children and older adults are among those who may be most affected by poor air quality.<\/p>\n
“It’s particularly important for children and elderly as well, because they can exacerbate a lot of health issues with poor air quality,” Snyder said.<\/p>\n
Guiraud said he also checks his home’s air filters regularly to help protect his family.<\/p>\n
“I check my air filters usually very frequently so that they protect my family in the house,” he said.<\/p>\n
If residents smell or see smoke, Snyder recommends going indoors, keeping doors and windows closed and setting air conditioning systems to recirculate indoor air instead of pulling air from outside.<\/p>\n
Residents can also monitor the latest air quality conditions through the Sac Metro Air District.<\/p>\n
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