California Fires
In June of 2008, hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires turned the air of Northern California into an unhealthy stew of smoke and ash, forcing the cancellation of athletic events and other outdoor activities.
Health advisories urgied residents to stay indoors and to limit exposure to the smoky air were issued from Bakersfield north to Redding, a distance of nearly 450 miles.
Air pollution readings in the region are two to 10 times the federal standard for clean air, Dimitri Stanich, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board, said Saturday June 28.
Some areas experiencied their worst air quality on record, with the smoke hanging down to the ground like a fog.
Air quality agencies were especially concerned about high readings of small-particle pollution. The tiniest particles can penetrate past the body's immune defenses, traveling deep into the lungs and the bloodstream.
"When you have it on the scale we are seeing now, it is very dangerous to the general public health," Stanich said. "This is a very serious problem."
On Saturday June 28, President Bush issued an emergency declaration for California and ordered federal agencies to assist in firefighting efforts in many areas. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made the request Friday.
More than 15,000 firefighters, 1,000 fire engines and more than 80 helicopters and aircraft were fighting more than 1,000 fires that same Saturday, said Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
"The summer has just begun, and fire conditions will only get tougher," Grijalva warned in a weekly radio address on behalf of the governor.
Areas hardest hit include Butte County, where 31 fires have burned 19 square miles and threatened 1,200 homes; Mendocino County, where 121 fires have burned 45 square miles and threatened 900 homes; and Shasta and Trinity counties, where about 160 fires have burned 58 square miles and threatened 230 homes.
South of the tourist town of Big Sur in Los Padres National Forest, a wildfire burned 92 square miles and destroyed 16 structures including two homes.
It got so bad at one point that Stanich, of the Air Resources Board, advised people to stay inside and keep activity to a minimum. Children, the elderly and people with heart and lung problems were particularly vulnerable, but pollution levels were also high enough to affect healthy adults.
Health officials reported an increase in people complaining of eye and throat irritation and coughing. Poor air quality can also trigger asthma attacks and bronchitis.
They said surgical masks, wet cloths and bandanas are not enough to filter the smoke. Only N95- and P100-rated masks filter out the smallest and most dangerous particles.
Some veterinary offices said pet owners brought in dogs and cats with symptoms ranging from weepy eyes and irritated skin to difficulty breathing or unusual lethargy. Vets advisied that pets remain inside until the smoke clears.
Smoky air canceled the 100-mile Western States Endurance Run for the first time in its 31-year history. The decision disappointed 370 runners who had traveled from as far away as Africa for the annual race from Squaw Valley at Lake Tahoe to Auburn in the Sierra foothills.
In Sonoma County, the limited visibility kept the Energizer Bunny and dozens of other colorful hot air balloons from lifting off during the Hot Air Balloon Classic in Windsor.
Cities also closed public pools, canceled softball games and called off July Fourth fireworks displays. Schwarzenegger urged residents not to buy fireworks this year and said local governments should consider an outright ban, though he would not impose one statewide.
