(The sun is shown blotted out by a smokey haze over Santa Cruz recently as drift smoke from California wild land fires filters over the Monterey Bay. Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Pajaronian)
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) warned Friday that smoke from wildfires burning in Northern California, Washington, Oregon and British Columbia has made the air unhealthy.
In a press release, MBARD said that residents of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties should therefore limit their outdoor activities.
The air is particularly hazardous for “sensitive groups,” such as very young, very old, and people with heart and lung disease.
Conditions are subject to change depending on wind and fire activity, and air quality will be variable and unpredictable.
MBARD further advised that outdoor activities such as jogging should be limited when the air is smoky, and that children should not play outdoors.
In addition, residents should avoid adding to the air pollution by avoiding using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and candles.
Even vacuuming, which stirs up indoor particles, should be avoided.
For information, visit the EPA website at www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=smoke.index.
The Monterey Bay Air Resources District tracks real time air quality in the region. For updates, visit mbard.org/air-quality.
