Air Quality in Napa County
Smoke Health Advisory
The Camp Fire in Butte County is sending smoke into Napa County and the surrounding Bay Area. The air quality conditions have ranged in Napa County from unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange) to unhealthy (red), with southern parts of the county having very unhealthy (purple) air quality since November 8, 2018. Air quality in most of Napa County is projected to be in the unhealthy range (red) through the end of today, November 20. It is predicted that there may be southerly winds at the end of Tuesday with rain on Wednesday, which will hopefully improve air quality. Children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, lung disease and heart disease are most at risk for harmful impacts and are considered sensitive groups. The most important protective action is to remain indoors. Please see “Air Quality and Actions to Protect Your Health.”
The air quality conditions are changing frequently and Public Health advises residents to monitor the following air quality websites frequently for current conditions and air quality forecasts.
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To decrease your exposure to wildfire smoke and to limit harmful effects from smoke, follow these measures:
- Limit your time outside and stay indoors as much as possible.
- If possible, seek shelter in buildings with filtered air OR move to areas outside the region less impacted by wildfire smoke until smoke levels subside.
- Keep your windows and doors closed unless it’s extremely hot outside.
- Run your home or car air conditioner on recycle or recirculate. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
- If you or your children have asthma or other lung disease, make sure you follow your doctor’s directions about taking your medicines and following your asthma management plan. Call your doctor for advice if symptoms worsen or consider leaving the area.
- If you must remain outdoors and you are concerned about wildfire smoke, consider using an N95 respirator mask. Please note that these masks do not protect young children and only provides some protection in adults. Please see “Wildfire Smoke and Face Masks”.
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Aviso de Salud Por Humo de Incendios (PDF) Opens a New Window.
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Air Quality and Actions to Protect your Healths a New Window. (Bilingual) (PDF) Opens a New Window.
Wildfire Smoke and Face Masks (Bilingual) (PDF) Opens a New Window.
Air Quality and Schools Opens a New Window.
Decisions on School Dismissal Due to Unhealthy Air Quality (PDF) Opens a New Window.
Decision de Cerrar Escuelas Debido al Aire Insalubre (PDF) Opens a New Window.
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Guidelines for school activities from CDC and US EPA (PDF) Opens a New Window.
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Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
- Learn out more about air quality by visiting the BAAQMD's About Air Quality page, as well as so Wildfire Smoke Safety Tips.
- Also see BAAQMD's current Spare the Air Status and Five Day Forecast.
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.