Bay Area residents may catch the faint smell of smoke this weekend from a wildfire burning in southern Oregon.
Starting early Saturday evening, the Bay Area will see impacts from the 9000-acre Milepost 97 fire near Canyonville, Oregon, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
The anticipated wildfire smoke prompted the air district to issue an air quality advisory through Sunday.
A Spare the Air Alert for unhealthy levels of smog is already place for the weekend, due to a combination of high temperatures, car exhaust and light winds.
The Oregon fire is producing smoke that’s moving both over the Pacific Ocean and into the Central Valley, air district officials said.
Impacts in the Bay Area will be minimal from the smoke, and there may be hazy conditions and a faint smell of smoke in elevated areas, according to the air district.
If the smell of smoke is present, residents should protect their health by avoiding exposure. The air district advises, if possible, that residents stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside.
Air conditioning units and car vent systems should be set to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. Smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated
sinuses.
Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD, the air district said.
Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.
I understand from talking to a friend in the area that it was reportedly started by the homeless cooking breakfast.
The investigation so far only states they believe it may have been started by an “illegal campfire”. That could be homeless or could just be people camping somewhere they shouldn’t, but since the fire was first reported at 10pm I have a hard time believing they were cooking breakfast regardless.
There is no evidence for this. It is convenient to blame the homeless for everything because they are powerless to fight back, but nothing official has bee released.
The only thing I could find online is:
“A preliminary investigation has found the fire’s cause was related to an illegal campfire.”
It is just as likely some family or people hiking neglected to put out their camp fire completely, and left when the embers where still hot. But we don’t know.
Only reporting what I was told by a person who lives in the area.
Meanwhile, Amtrak is still running a full schedule for their Empty trains. Airlines are still running a full schedule. Ships are still burning Bunker fuel ~ Look up how toxic and nasty that stuff is. It’s the leftovers from refining gasoline.
But be sure to SMOG your vehicle and ride the bus.