Air Quality Management District (AQMD)

(PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA) July 25, 2022 —  Air quality in El Dorado County is once again intermittently being impacted by smoke from wildfires in the region. County Health officials are reminding residents to prepare to respond should wildfire smoke impact areas where they live, work and recreate.

According to El Dorado County Air Pollution Control Officer Dave Johnston and Public Health Officer Dr. Nancy Williams, wildfires can produce smoke that causes health problems, particularly for children, older adults and those with heart disease or respiratory issues. They advise residents to limit outdoor activity if they see or smell smoke.

Additional precautions include the following:

• Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible
• Take activities indoors and delay strenuous outdoor exercise until smoke has cleared
• Children and older adults should avoid outdoor activity, especially prolonged outdoor exercise
• People with heart disease, respiratory or chronic health issues should stay indoors
• Leave smoke impacted areas until conditions improve, if possible
• Stay hydrated; drink lots of water to keep airways moist
• Minimize the creation of indoor particulate matter (avoid cigarette smoking, grilling, vacuuming, burning candles and incense)
• Set the air conditioners in your home and car to re-circulating mode
• Consider creating a ‘clean room’ at home by operating an indoor air purifier and keeping the room’s windows and doors closed.
• Limit pets’ outdoor activities

While non-HEPA masks may help reduce the spread of viruses and filter larger particles, they do not filter out fine particulates in wildfire smoke.  Information on masks and smoke can be viewed at https://placerair.org/DocumentCenter/View/46777/Respirators-Masks-and-Face-Coverings?bidId=

During this fire season, El Dorado County may continue to be intermittently impacted by wildfire smoke. Smoke conditions can change quickly and vary greatly in El Dorado County because of the terrain, wind direction and weather.

The El Dorado County Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has deployed over 50 Purple Air monitors throughout the County to gather real time, location specific information about air quality. Residents can view this information in our area and wildfire location by visiting https://fire.airnow.gov/  and https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/

For more information about air quality issues in El Dorado County, please visit AQMD’s website at: www.edcgov.us/airqualitymanagement. The AQMD also has a web page dedicated to information about wildfire smoke and preventive measures: https://www.edcgov.us/Government/AirQualityManagement/Pages/wildfire_information.aspx.