Air Quality in Napa County

Napa County is dedicated to ensuring a safe and healthy environment, and keeping the public up to date about the county’s air quality in the aftermath of the October wildfires.

Debris Removal and Clean-up is Currently Underway 

Safe and timely removal of ash and debris and avoidance of property in which clean-up is taking place are the most effective strategies to protect the health and safety of our residents. During the removal effort, our regional, state and federal partners are monitoring air quality in Napa County. Air quality information will be updated on this site. If air quality conditions become unhealthy, Napa County Public Health will take additional action to inform the community.

It is important to remember that even if the air quality in monitored  areas are good, any remaining ash and debris on properties still poses a risk to human health and to the environment, even after household hazardous waste has been removed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. All workers cleaning up wildfire-damaged properties must use proper personal protective equipment and best management practices to control dust , which may contain heavy metals and asbestos.

For answers to frequently asked questions including “What precautions should residents take to prevent ash from coming into my home?” and “What can I do to ensure air quality in my home is safe?” Download this FAQ sheet from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (PDF).

How do we measure air quality?

One of the most common ways to measure air quality is by measuring particulate matter, or PM. PM refers to fine particles in the air that are harmful to health.

• Click here to learn more about the different types of particulate matter.
• Click here to learn more about the health effects of particulate matter.

Air quality data in Napa County is measured in three different ways:

• The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) routinely collects air quality data from fixed monitors placed in the City of Napa. Air quality data varies across Napa County because data is combined from fixed monitors in neighboring counties (i.e. Sonoma, Lake, Solano).
• Supplemental air monitoring is provided by the California Air Resources Board, located at Vichy Elementary School, which is located in an area impacted by wildfire damage and air quality data is available here by zooming into the map.
• Community and area monitoring data are provided from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), who is also conducting area monitoring as part of debris management and clean-up (total dust perimeter, asbestos, and metals).