The National Weather service is warning Californians living in areas with wildfires that it’s just not worth the risk to stand outside and grill supper.
The advisory is less about the possibility of a backyard barbecue causing fires, and more about keeping people away from a source of smoke when the air around them is already overburdened with hazardous particulates.
“If you see smoke or see ash,” don’t go outside, and keep your windows closed, the NWS advises. Those who don’t have a home to go to should seek some sort of alternative indoor shelter.
And while exercise is good for a body, it’s not worth the risk of exerting yourself in filthy air. The weather service advisory also cautions against “vigorous physical activity” while wildfires are raging. The harder a body works, the faster the heart pumps, and the more a person needs to breathe. This simply introduces smoke into the cardiovascular system and forces it to strain, which is especially dangerous for those who have pre-existing heart or lung conditions.
People should also pay attention to how they cool and ventilate their homes. It is not wise to use systems like swamp coolers or air conditioners that bring in air from outside the home.
While it is not likely that anyone living near a wildfire would feel moved to cozy up the living room by lighting the fireplace, that too can add to the respiratory burden. The NWS advises people to avoid lighting the fireplace, burning candles, or frying food that throws off particulates, at least while the air quality is compromised by forest fires.
Some areas are so choked with smoke that residents are being urged to wear well-fitted N95 masks, or P100 respirators if they have to spend significant time outdoors. Of course, running gasoline powered appliances will also add to the problem.
The worst air quality right now is found in the Joshua Tree, Chuckwalla Valley, and Chiriaco Summit areas. An air quality warning went into effect Tuesday, July 30.
This year’s wildfire season has eaten up 751,000 acres across the Golden State as crews battle heat and smoke to keep people safe.
The fires are not confined to just one region, either. Officials in Riverside county say four buildings have been destroyed, while Kern County farther north has lost 57,000 acres to the blaze.
One of the largest fires in state history is still burning in Butte, Shasta, Plumas, and Tehama counties. The so-called Park Fire has claimed 387,000 acres so far.
