Bay Area air quality affected by Park Fire smoke Sunday and Monday

Air quality in the Bay Area will be affected by smoke from the Park Fire on Sunday and Monday, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is issuing an air quality advisory, the agency said Sunday.

Smoke from the Park Fire is expected to impact air quality. Hazy skies may be visible and the smell of smoke is possible at high elevations. Air quality is expected to remain in the Good to Moderate categories on the Air Quality Index, the agency said in a press release.

If smoke impacts their area, it is important that Bay Area residents protect their health by avoiding exposure. If possible, and temperatures allow, the agency advised residents to stay inside with windows and doors closed until smoke levels subside.

Residents can also reduce their exposure to smoke by setting their air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate to prevent outside air from moving inside. The use of indoor air filtration or going to a Clean Air Center or other location with filtered air, such as a library or mall, can also help reduce smoke exposure.

Conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict. The public can check for real-time smoke pollution levels in their local area with the U.S. EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map.