Cal Fire has helped protect the California forests from uncontained wildfires for 140 years. With dry temperatures in the Central Valley always increasing, the fear of fires reaches its peak during an arid summer. The Garnet Fire set flame on August, 24, rising to a staggering 55,000 acres burned in 15 days. Many establishments and households are under evacuation warning due to the uncontainable nature of the fire.
The biggest health risk with wildfires is not the fire itself, but rather the smoke that accompanies it. When smoke rises in the air, a mixture of micro-particles combines into what is called Particulate Matter (PM). The Garnet wildfire has shown to spread a special size of particles known as PM2.5, which means the particle has a diameter of less than 2.5µm (Human hair = 50-70 µm). This allows the particle to get further into a person’s bloodstream and respiratory system than most, leading to severe health complications and chronic organ issues.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is responsible for monitoring the air quality in the Central Valley. Many announcements have been made about the declining air quality all throughout the Central Valley. Jon Klassen, the Director of Air Quality Science at the control district, urges people to take heavy precautions when being active outside, such as wearing N95 and taking breaks in structures with filtered air.
“When these wildfires occur, it’s best for people to reduce their exposure to smoke by staying indoors in a filtered environment,” Klassen said. “If you must be outside for a prolonged period of time, try to avoid heavy exertion.”
More information regarding the Garnet Fire is available on the Cal Fire website. For safety information about air quality and safety, visit Valley Air.
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