Northern California fires belch smoke, pollution over Shasta County; relief on way
Smoke and pollution from fires burning in Northern California could continue to make air unhealthy to breathe off and on mid-week. That’s until skies clear and cool weather rolls in this weekend. What little wind we have now isn’t enough to push the smoke away, said meteorologist Emily Heller at the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Expect the most smoke at night and in the morning on Wednesday and Thursday, with it lifting gradually during the afternoon, she said. A respite from heat and hazy air is on the way, with daily high temperatures expected to be in the 90s. “We’re going to see a cooling trend” this weekend, with daytime highs in the upper 70s, Heller said. Winds will pick up those days, pushing smoke and pollution out of the valley to the north. There may even be some light rain over the weekend in the mountains surrounding the valley, Heller said. That could help clear the air a bit, too. Smoke from wildfires hangs over the Sacramento River near the Sundial Bridge in Redding on Monday. Smoke in the mountains over the Dixie Fire burn area will likely blow northeast, she said. One caveat: Gusty winds up to 30 miles per hour will hit higher elevations in the mountains. Those could spread fires burning throughout Northern California. For more than a week, pollution in Redding fluctuated from moderate levels relatively safe for people to levels considered unhealthy to breath. The Dixie Fire burns on Horton Ridge near Dixie Mountain in Plumas County on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. The fire also was very active in the Coyote Hills and Ross Canyon areas Saturday afternoon. Aircraft made water and retardant drops to assist crews. Pollution even reached hazardous levels in some North State areas. Worst air was concentrated near fires, including Hayfork and Junction City in Trinity County — both next to the Montgomery Fire burn area. Pollution in the form of tiny particles small enough to breath can be high at any time, regardless if there’s a smoky smell. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) gets into the air from fires and other sources, according to the EPA. These contain “microscopic solids or liquid droplets” that can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. The Paradise and Colony fires, collectively known as the KNP Complex, have scorched more than 3,000 acres as of Tuesday morning with 0% containment, according to the National Park Service. Evacuation warnings have been issued for parts of the town of Three Rivers. Another wildfire that sparked last Thursday at Tule River Reservation has crossed into Sequoia National Forest, the Forest Service said Monday.
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