Check air quality in Placer, Sacramento, El Dorado counties

WE BEGIN TONIGHT WITH MOSQUITO FIRE BURNING IN PLACER AND EL DORADO COUNTIES FOR THE FIRST TIME, FIREFIGHTERS HAVE SOME CONTAINMENT. THIS IS TIME LAPSE VIDEO NEAR FORESTHILL. OVER THE LAST HOUR, YOU CAN SEE THE FIRE STILL PUTTING UP A LOT OF SMOKE THIS EVENING. THOUSANDS OF HOMES STILL THREATENED AND THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO IN THE STEEP TERRAIN. AN ELDERLY COUPLE WAS SAVED EARLIER TODAY FROM VOLCANO VILLAGE ROAD AND WE WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT IN JUST A SECOND. WANT TO TURN IT OVER TO METEOROLOGIST DIRK VERDOORN FOR A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS THERE RIGHT NOW. YEAH, WHAT’S INTERESTING IS WE SEE THE CLOUD COVER AND THERE’S SOME ACTIVITY GOING ON IN THE SIERRA. SO THAT’S A SIGN FOR BETTER CONDITIONS THAT THE CLOUD COVER MEANS COOLER TEMPERATURES, HIGHER HUMIDITY, AND THOSE ARE ALL WELCOMED THINGS FOR FIREFIGHTERS IN THAT AREA. BUT IT DOES KIND OF STIR UP MAYBE THE WINDS A LITTLE BIT MORE. BUT LET’S GO INTO THAT AREA AND SEE THAT WE HAVE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN FAIRLY CALM LATELY. THIS IS FROM A STATION AT THE FORESTHILL. WE HAVE SOUTHWEST WINDS THAT ONLY ONE MILE PER HOUR. AGAIN, NO GUSTS OF WIND, JUST VERY LIGHT WINDS. TEMPERATURE OF 84 DEGREES. AND HUMIDITY, THOUGH, STILL VERY DRY, 17% HUMIDITY EVEN WITH THE CLOUD COVER, IT FEELS A LITTLE MUGGY. BUT YOU CAN SEE THE EXTENT OF THIS FIRE HAS MADE ITS WAY FROM FORESTHILL TOWARDS VOLCANO VILLE AND ALL THE WAY DOWN PASS THROUGH OVER IN AREAS UP PAST MICHIGAN BLUFF AND FURTHER NORTH ALONG FOREST HILL ROAD. AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IT HAS GROWN TREMENDOUS SLEEP OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS AND PRODUCING A LOT OF SMOKE. SO HERE’S A LOOK AT THE AIR QUALITY. CURRENTLY, WE’RE LOOKING AT LEVELS THAT ARE UNHEALTHY. GRASS VALLEY, NEVADA CITY, ALSO FROM ABOUT COLFAX UP PAST ALTA AND ON YOUR WAY TO DONNER SUMMIT. THAT’S WHERE YOU SEE THOSE LEVELS OF POLLUTANTS IN THE AIR, THE SMOKE THAT’S IN THE AIR AT HIGHER LEVELS AND ALSO FROM SOUTH LAKE TAHOE TOWARDS KIRKWOOD AND BEAR VALLEY. WE SEE THIS ALSO IN THROUGH NEVADA, CARSON CITY AND TOPAZ LAKE AREA. SO THERE’S A LOT OF SMOKE THAT’S BEING PRODUCED AND THAT SMOKE HAS BEEN PUSHED UPSLOPE OR UP THE MOUNTAIN, UP THE SLOPE OF THE SIERRA AND TOWARDS THE TAHOE BASIN. SO THAT’S WHERE IT’S BEEN GOING SO FAR TODAY. BUT AS WE GO THROUGH THE NIGHT, WE SEE THAT THE WINDS RELAX AND THE AIR KIND OF SHIFTS AND WE GET THAT FLOW COMING DOWN THE SLOPE. IT’S NOT GOING TO GO TO TOO LOW OF ELEVATIONS, BUT WE WILL SEE IT KIND OF SPREAD OUT THROUGH CALAVERAS COUNTY AND INTO TUOLUMNE COUNTY IS WHERE WE’LL SEE SOME OF THAT SMOKE DEVELOP AND THEN IT’LL EXTEND ALSO UP IN THROUGH SIERRA COUNTIES, PLACER COUNTIES IN NEVADA COUNTY AS WELL AS YUBA COUNTY WILL BE SEEING SOME OF THAT SMOKE IN THICKER CONCENTRATIONS. AND THEN AS WE GO THROUGH TOMORROW, WE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE WINDS AGAIN, PUSHING EVERYTHING BASICALLY OFF TO THE EAST AND TO THE NORTHEAST. SO THAT’S THE KIND OF HE PROGRESSION THAT WE’RE GOING TO SEE AS FAR AS THE WEATHER IS CONCERNED AND THOSE WINDS. NOW BACK OVER TO ORKO MANNA, WHO’S UP IN PLACER COUNTY WITH MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON THERE. YET DIRK. RIGHT NOW, WE JUST GOT TO FORESTHILL AND IT’S PRETTY QUIET UP HERE. A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKING THOSE EVACUATION ORDERS VERY SERIOUSLY WHERE WE ARE, WE CAN SEE THAT SMOKE THAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT. WE ARE JUST A LITTLE BIT A WAYS FROM WHERE THE FIRE LINES ARE. AND AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE THAT THICK GRASS SMOKE BECAUSE OF THE FIRE. AGAIN, A REALLY, REALLY LARGE FIRE THAT IS BURNING, AT LEAST AS YOU SAID, IN CAL FIRE. IT DOES HAVE SOME CONTAINMENT ON IT. NOW, ABOUT 10% AGAIN, IS THAT UPDATE THAT WE GOT THIS MORNING. SO AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THAT SMOKE AND THEN WE WANT TO SHOW YOU THIS THIS AREA OF TOWN HERE. WE JUST AS I MENTIONED, JUST GOT HERE AND IT’S VERY QUIET. A LOT OF THE SHOPS HERE CLOSE, NO ACTIVITY, NO ONE DRIVING THROUGH EVERY NOW AND EVERY NOW THAN NOW AND THEN WE’LL SEE. MAYBE A CAL FIRE TRUCK KIND OF DRIVE THIS WAY CLOSER IN THAT DIRECTION, WHICH IS WHERE, AGAIN, THE FIRE IS CLOSER TO THAT PART OF FOREST HILL AND MICHIGAN BLUFF. AGAIN IN THAT DIRECTION. SO AGAIN, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF THAT SMOKE AND WE ARE SEEING JUST NOT A LOT OF ACTIVITY HERE, JUST A LOT OF BUSINESSES, HOMES CLOSED UP, BOARDED UP, AND THEN WE ARE SEEING SOME EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND SOME CAL FIRE VEHICLES COME THROUGH THIS AREA. WE’RE GOING TO MAKE OUR WAY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO WHERE THE ACTUAL FIRE LINES ARE. AND WE’LL HAVE MORE UPDATES FOR YOU ON AIR AND ONLINE FOR NOW. REPORTING LIVE IN FORESTHILL, ORKO MANNA, KCRA 3 NEWS ORKO. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. AND AS CREWS CONTINUE TO FIGHT THE FIRE, THEY’RE STILL NO ESTIMATE OF HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED. KCRA 3’S ERIN HEFT SHOWS US WHAT’S LEFT BEHIND. A MOSQUITO FIRE BURNING SINCE LAST TUESDAY, THREATENING THOUSANDS OF HOMES, BUT NO TALLY YET ON HOW MANY ARE NOW GONE. DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS, FOR THE MOST PART, ARE DELAYED DURING WILDFIRES BECAUSE, WELL, MOST OF THE ATTENTION IS ACTUALLY GOING TOWARDS FIGHTING THE FIRE, BUT THAT CAUSES A LOT OF TENSION FOR THE PEOPLE STUCK BEHIND EVACUATION LINES, WONDERING IF THEIR HOMES ARE STILL STANDING. DRIVING DOWN THIS HILL, MICHIGAN BLUFF ROAD. IT’S PARALLEL TO GORMAN RANCH ROAD. AND IT’S VERY OBVIOUS THAT FIVE SEPARATE PROPERTIES DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE MOSQUITO FIRE. BUT IF YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DOWN THIS HILL, WE CAN FIND 15 HOMES UNTOUCHED BY FIRE. WE’RE IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN BLUFF. AND THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS OF SUNDAY MORNING. BUT MERE FEET BEHIND SOME OF THESE UNTOUCHED PROPERTIES, THE GROUND COMPLETELY SCORCHED, JUST SHOWING HOW HARD THIS FIREFIGHT HAS BEEN. FIRE CREWS ARE WORKING DEEP IN THESE VALLEYS. THE TERRAIN WITH UNMAINTAINED ROADS AND WEATHER ALL PLAYING THEIR OWN ROLE. SOME AREAS LOOKING LIKE THIS, WHILE OTHERS ARE COMPLETELY UNSCATHED. DOWN ON BARTH ROAD IN FOREST HILL, YOU CAN SEE RETARDANT IN THE TREES. THESE DOZER LINES CUT IN THE NIGHT AND FIRE HOSE ON THIS STREET LINED WITH HOMES. THOUGH THE FOOTHILLS ARE LINED WITH PRIVATE ROADS, HOMES TUCKED DEEP INTO THESE WOODS AND OVER THIS CHARRED GROUND, THERE’S STILL NO TELLING WHAT MAY LIE AT THE END. IN PLACER COUNTY, ERIN HEFT, KCRA 3 NEWS AN ELDERLY COUPLE WAS SAVED EARLIER TODAY FROM VOLCANO VALE ROAD, EL DORADO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RELEASED THIS VIDEO OF THE RESCUE. THE COUPLE TOLD RESCUERS THEY WERE STUCK INSIDE THE FIRE LINES WITH THEIR TWO DOGS AND HAD NO WAY TO EVACUATE AS THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT WORKING. A DEPUTY HAD TO DRIVE THROUGH THE FIRE LINE IN EXTREMELY SMOKY CONDITIONS, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE. FORTUNATELY, THE COUPLE AND THEIR DOGS ARE SAFE. THE SMOKE FROM THE MOSQUITO FIRE IS THICK IN THIS SIERRA. THIS VIDEO WAS SHARED WITH US BY A VIEWER. SHE SAID THEY WERE ON I-80 JUST PAST DUTCH FLAT WHEN THEY SHOT THIS VIDEO. AND YOU CAN SEE HOW THICK THAT SMOKE IS. THE VIEWER HERE SAYS THIS VIDEO JUST DOESN’T DO IT JUSTICE, ADDING THAT IT LOOKS LIKE DUSK AND YOU COULD SEE CARS TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE PLACER COUNTY SPCA IS ASKING FOR HELP TONIGHT TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES. PLACER COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES HAS STEPPED UP, TAKING CARE OF ANIMALS UNTIL FAMILIES CAN GO BACK HOME. NOW THEY NEED HELP WITH DONATIONS. BY ARE THINGS LIKE BASIC THINGS LIKE FOOD, ADDITIONAL STAINLESS STEEL BOWLS FOR FOOD AND WATER CRATES BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING. THEY HAD TO ACTUALLY HAVE TO HOUSE SOME ANIMALS IN CRATES, LITTER BOXES, CAT LITTER. THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND THEY ALSO ARE TAKING CARE OF OFTEN ANIMALS AND RANCH ANIMALS. SO THEY REQUIRE GOAT FEED AND PIG FEED AND GEESE, GOOSE FEED AND THINGS THAT WE DON’T TYPICALLY EVEN SEE HERE IN ROSEVILLE. BUT WE’RE ASKING FOR DONATIONS SO WE CAN GET THEM UP TO PLACER COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES FOR ALL OF THAT MYRIAD ANIMALS THAT THEY’RE TAKING CARE OF RIGHT NOW. PLACER COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES HAS RECEIVED ABOUT 200 ANIMALS, SO FAR. PEOPLE LOOKING TO HELP CAN CONTACT THE PLACER COUNTY SPCA DIRECTLY. AND TOMORROW MORNING, THE PLACERVILLE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WILL BE HELPING EVACUEES OUT BY PROVIDING CHILD CARE. THIS IS OPEN TO KIDS AGES FIVE THROUGH 18 WHO ARE IMPACTED BY THE EVACUATION. THE CENTER IS LOCATED ON MALLARD LANE AND PLACERVILLE MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 8 TO 6. THE CLUB WILL PROVIDE THIS SERVICE UNTIL ALL EVACUATIONS ARE LIFTED. AS THE MOSQUITO FIRE CONTINUES TO GROW, IT’S FORCING MORE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOMES, SENDING RESIDENTS LOOKING FOR SOME HELP. THE BELL ROAD BAPTIST CHURCH IN AUBURN HAS CLOSED ITS EVACUATION CENTER, BUT A NEW EMERGENCY SHELTER IS OPENING AT SIERRA COLLEGE AND ROCKLIN. AUBURN REGIONAL PARK GYM IS OPENING TEMPORARILY FOR RVS AND TRAILERS. THERE’S PARKING BATHROOMS AND ACCESS TO SHOWERS THERE. AND THE NEVADA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS IS ACCEPTING BOTH SMALL AN

Hazardous air affects Sacramento region as Mosquito Fire burns

Smoke from the Mosquito Fire burning in Placer and El Dorado counties is bringing hazardous air quality to parts of the Sacramento region on Sunday, according to Spare the Air.

Updated: 5:26 PM PDT Sep 11, 2022

Shifting winds could help to improve air quality in parts of the Sacramento region, but hazardous air will persist in areas near the Mosquito Fire on Sunday, according to Spare the Air. The Sacramento Metropolitan, El Dorado, Feather River, Placer and Yolo-Solano air districts forecast moderate to hazardous air quality for the region over the weekend. Watch the full forecast, air quality outlook and an update on the Mosquito Fire in the video player aboveSunday Air Quality ForecastEl Dorado: UnhealthyPlacer: HazardousSacramento: ModerateYolo-Solano: Moderate Monday Air Quality ForecastEl Dorado: Unhealthy for sensitive groupsPlacer: HazardousSacramento: Unhealthy for sensitive groupsYolo-Solano: ModerateKCRA 3 Meteorologist Eileen Javora said that the worst of the air quality has been in the Foothills. There will be relief in sight for the Valley as the Delta breeze pushes smoke up the hill.People with lung and respiratory issues should avoid strenuous and prolonged outdoor activity that could worsen their conditions in the polluted air. People are also urged to wear N95 masks that can filter out smoke particles. | VIDEO BELOW | LiveCopter 3 has a view of smoky conditions above Placer County on FridayHere are recommended ways to reduce your smoke exposure:Stay indoors with the windows and doors closed; if possible, run the air conditioner on the “recirculation” settingLimit outdoor physical activityLeave the smoke-impacted areas if possible until conditions improveReduce unnecessary driving. If traveling through smoke-impacted areas, be sure that your vehicle’s ventilation system is on “recirculate”Non‐HEPA paper face mask filters and bandana-type face coverings are not capable of filtering out extra fine smoke particulates, which are much smaller in size. Therefore, they will not be helpful in protecting individuals from smoke-related impacts. Information on the use of masks and face coverings during smoke impacts can be found here.Learn more smoke information from Placer County here.

Shifting winds could help to improve air quality in parts of the Sacramento region, but hazardous air will persist in areas near the Mosquito Fire on Sunday, according to Spare the Air.

The Sacramento Metropolitan, El Dorado, Feather River, Placer and Yolo-Solano air districts forecast moderate to hazardous air quality for the region over the weekend.

• Watch the full forecast, air quality outlook and an update on the Mosquito Fire in the video player above

Sunday Air Quality Forecast

• El Dorado: Unhealthy
• Placer: Hazardous
• Sacramento: Moderate
• Yolo-Solano: Moderate

Monday Air Quality Forecast

• El Dorado: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Placer: Hazardous
• Sacramento: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
• Yolo-Solano: Moderate

KCRA 3 Meteorologist Eileen Javora said that the worst of the air quality has been in the Foothills. There will be relief in sight for the Valley as the Delta breeze pushes smoke up the hill.

People with lung and respiratory issues should avoid strenuous and prolonged outdoor activity that could worsen their conditions in the polluted air. People are also urged to wear N95 masks that can filter out smoke particles.

This content is imported from Twitter.
You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

| VIDEO BELOW | LiveCopter 3 has a view of smoky conditions above Placer County on Friday

Here are recommended ways to reduce your smoke exposure:

• Stay indoors with the windows and doors closed; if possible, run the air conditioner on the “recirculation” setting
• Limit outdoor physical activity
• Leave the smoke-impacted areas if possible until conditions improve
• Reduce unnecessary driving. If traveling through smoke-impacted areas, be sure that your vehicle’s ventilation system is on “recirculate”
• Non‐HEPA paper face mask filters and bandana-type face coverings are not capable of filtering out extra fine smoke particulates, which are much smaller in size. Therefore, they will not be helpful in protecting individuals from smoke-related impacts. Information on the use of masks and face coverings during smoke impacts can be found here.

Learn more smoke information from Placer County here.