The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Health Advisory and Spare the Air Alert through Oct. 12, according to an alert from the City of Morgan Hill.
“Very unhealthy air quality from the wildfires in the North Bay is causing unprecedented levels of air pollution throughout the Bay Area,” the press release states. “Due to active wildfires and changing wind patterns, air quality could be impacted for many days to come. Outside of the active fire areas, air quality will be variable and unpredictable. Air quality may improve at times or get worse, very quickly.”
The alert instructs residents to “protect themselves from the impacts of heavy smoke” and “avoid outdoor activity including exercise.”
Under smoky conditions, residents are asked to “stay indoors with windows and doors closed and air conditioning units on recirculate to avoid drawing outside air into buildings”
Children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, emphysema and heart disease are most impacted, according to the press release.
“Because of the serious air quality conditions in parts of the Bay Area, the air district is asking residents to avoid adding additional air pollution by curtailing air polluting activities such as wood burning, lawn mowing and leaf blowing, driving and barbecuing,” it concludes.
