Lassen County, and in particular the Honey Lake Valley, are socked in this morning with smoke from several wildfires burning around us. Where is all this smoke coming from you ask? Here is a quick run-down of fires affecting us this morning.
Lumpkin Fire in Butte County
Currently most of the smoke in our valley is being generated by the 600 acre Lumpkin Fire burning off Lumpkin Rd and Forbestown Rd, in Butte County. According to Cal-Fire the Lumpkin Fire is 25% contained and is expected to reach 100% containment today.
Valley Fire in Lake County
The Valley Fire, burning in southern Lake County, is now at 61,000 acres and is only 5% contained. According to Cal-Fire’s morning update firefighters from across California are aggressively fighting the Valley Fire that has continued to spread in hot, windy conditions. The fire continues to grow as firefighters work to construct fire lines, while protecting lives and property.
There has been a report of a civilian fatality in the fire area. That report is being investigated by local law enforcement. 400 homes have been destroyed by the Valley Fire and many hundreds of other structures have been destroyed as well.
Butte Fire in Amador and Calaveras Counties
Most of the smoke from this huge wildfire is heading into Tahoe, Reno and Western Nevada – staying to the south of Lassen County.
The fire is burning east of Jackson (in Amador and Calaveras Counties) and as of Monday morning is now at 71,063 acres with 30% contained. According to Cal-Fire there are 6,400 structures threatened. 135 residences, 79 outbuildings and 4 structures have been destroyed.
Monday’s weather plays an important role
According to the National Weather Service office in Reno today, above the smoke, we will have mostly cloudy skies with isolated showers in the morning… then isolated showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Haze through the day will be variable depending on fire activity and wind direction.
Winds will pick up this afternoon starting out at around 10 mph increasing to 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. This could be good or bad for our air quality depending on prevailing winds.
Smoke, wind and the chance of isolated thunderstorms continue on Tuesday.
Staying healthy in this yucky air
The Health Department offers an air-quality visibility chart and health tips at www.lassencountyhealth.org.
When you smell smoke, or see smoke around you, Lassen County’s Public Health Nurse Christi Myers advises you to consider restricting outdoor activities as the chance of being affected by smoke increases substantially with strenuous or prolonged activity outdoors.
Air quality can change rapidly at different times during the day due to wind shift. It is important to monitor smoke conditions throughout the day and plan outdoor activities accordingly.
Wildfire smoke has harmful chemicals that can affect your health. It can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing and difficulty breathing. Everyone should take precautions to avoid smoke exposure.
- Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
- Do not run swamp coolers or fans that bring in outdoor air.
People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include those with chronic lung disease (such as asthma) and/or heart disease, young children, pregnant women, and older adults. If you have symptoms that may have been worsened by smoke exposure, contact your health care provider immediately.
These symptoms include:
- Repeated Cough
- Shortness of Breath
- Difficulty Breathing
- Wheezing
- Chest Tightness or Pain
For more information call Lassen County Public Health at 530-251-8183 or visit the Lassen County Air Pollution Control District at www.lassenair.org
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