Smoky, hazy skies are settling over parts of Contra Costa County after a wildfire north of Antioch pushed a thick plume into the East Bay, prompting the Bay Area Air District to issue an air quality advisory for yesterday and today. Officials warned that the smoke contains fine particulate pollution that can irritate lungs even after brief exposure.
Where the smoke is coming from
The fire, called the Marina Fire, is burning in the Lower Sherman Island Wildlife Area north of Antioch, and the Air District issued the advisory for Sunday through Monday, March 29–30, as reported by SFGATE. Wind was expected to push smoke toward Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay and Byron, creating visible haze and the smell of smoke across those communities.
What the Air District recommends
The Air District urged residents to stay indoors with windows and doors closed, to set car ventilation systems to re-circulate and to use indoor air filtration or visit a Clean Air Center if needed, according to the Bay Area Air District. Officials said they will monitor air quality throughout the region and noted that pollutant levels were not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard, so no Spare the Air Alert was in effect.
Health context
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can irritate eyes and airways, trigger asthma attacks and worsen heart and lung disease, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency explains. A recent national analysis found that wildfire-smoke PM2.5 contributes to tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year, as AP News reported, which is why even relatively short smoke events get serious attention from health officials.
How to check conditions right now
For real-time plume maps and monitor readings, use the U.S. EPA's Fire and Smoke Map at Fire and Smoke Map, and look for local updates on the Air District's Incidents and Advisories page. If you smell smoke or see hazy skies, limit outdoor activity, keep car vents set to re-circulate, run a high-efficiency indoor filter if you have one and contact a medical provider if breathing or other symptoms worsen.
