See smoky skies in SLO County? Here’s where the wildfires are
Are you noticing haze and smoke in the skies over San Luis Obispo County?
Air quality in areas of the county has degraded as wildfire smoke drifts through the region.
The worst impacts have been felt in the coastal areas of the county.
As of Wednesday morning, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District’s air quality data show that the Nipomo Mesa area had air quality that is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
The air quality index, known as the AQI, was at about 120 for the Nipomo Mesa area as of 1 p.m. Wednesday, according to the air pollution control district.
San Luis Obispo saw unhealthy air quality Wednesday afternoon as well. The local air pollution control district measured an AQI of 124 as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
Other areas, such as Atascadero, had moderate air quality Wednesday morning with an AQI of 95, the air pollution control district’s website said.
The smoky skies are the result of several wildfires burning in Northern California and other areas of the northwestern United States.
The largest of the fires is the Smith River Complex burning along the Oregon and California border just east of Crescent City. The blaze started on Aug. 15 and has burned 92,180 acres in California and 12,460 in Oregon. It was 73% contained as of Tuesday, according to Cal Fire.
The 2023 Happy Camp Complex had burned 32,398 acres as of Wednesday in the Scott Bar Mountains west of Montague in Northern California, according to Cal Fire. It was 70% contained after starting on Aug. 16.
And the 2023 SRF Lightning Complex and Redwood Lightning Complex had burned 28,829 acres and was 7% contained as of Wednesday. The fires started on Aug. 15 and are burning just east of Redwood National Park, according to Cal Fire.
At least three other fires were burning in Northern California as of Wednesday morning, according to Cal Fire. Plus, several fires were burning in Oregon and Idaho.
While San Luis Obispo County was expected to see smoky skies for the rest of Wednesday, conditions have not deteriorated to the levels seen in the Bay Area and coastal Northern California.
There, extremely unhealthy air quality has been observed, with AQI in one area just south of Eureka measured at 222, according to AirNow, a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, NASA, Centers for Disease Control and tribal, state and local air quality agencies.
Those living in San Luis Obispo County who may be affected by the poor air quality from the wildfire smoke are advised to stay indoors as much as possible, the local air pollution control district advises.
Additionally, people may want to avoid strenuous outdoor activities and close all windows and doors that lead to outside to prevent bringing smoke inside, the local agency’s website said.
This story was originally published September 20, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
