A wildfire that started Friday afternoon in Mariposa County is expected to affect air quality in Northern Nevada for the rest of the weekend. The Oak Fire is burning near the town of Midpines in Mariposa County, Calif. By Saturday evening it had grown to 19 square miles according to Cal Fire. California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency as more than 6,000 people have been evacuated. To help reduce the impact of wildfire smoke, the EPA recommends: • Keep windows and doors closed. • Use fans and air conditioning to stay cool. If you cannot stay cool, seek shelter elsewhere. • Reduce the smoke that enters your home. • If you have an HVAC system with a fresh air intake, set the system to recirculate mode, or close the outdoor intake damper. • If you have an evaporative cooler, avoid using it unless there is a heat emergency because it can result in more smoke being brought inside. If you must use the evaporative cooler, take advantage of times when outdoor air quality improves, even temporarily, to open windows and air out the house. • If you have a window air conditioner, close the outdoor air damper. If you cannot close the damper, do not use the window air conditioner. Make sure that the seal between the air conditioner and the window is as tight as possible. • If you have a portable air conditioner with a single hose, typically vented out of a window, do not use it in smoky conditions because it can result in more smoke being brought inside. If you have a portable air conditioner with two hoses, make sure that the seal between the window vent kit and the window is as tight as possible.
Avoid activities that create more fine particles indoors, including: • Smoking cigarettes. • Using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces. • Spraying aerosol products. • Frying or broiling food. • Burning candles or incense. • Vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. • Avoid strenuous activity during smoky times to reduce how much smoke you inhale. For real time data. go to https://www.iqair.com/ or go to https://fire.airnow.gov/
