Latest news with #BayAreaAirDistrict
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wildfire smoke from Canada triggers air quality advisory in Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — Wildfire smoke billowing from several fires in Canada is expected to impact air quality in the San Francisco Bay Area this week, officials announced Monday. An air quality advisory has been issued for Monday and Tuesday by the Bay Area Air District. Bay Area residents may smell smoke and see hazy skies while the advisory is in effect, the air district said. 'Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants,' BAAD wrote in its advisory. 'Exposure to wildfire smoke is unhealthy, even for short periods of time.' Symptoms of exposure can include irritated eyes and airways. The smoke is emanating from wildfires in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the air district said. Officials suggest staying inside with the windows and doors closed, if possible, until the air quality improves. Travelers can also set vehicle vent systems to recirculate air. Libraries, malls and other locations with filtered air can help reduce exposure, according to BAAD. 'Elevated particulate matter in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD,' BAAD wrote. 'Elderly persons, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly susceptible to elevated air pollution levels and should take extra precautions to avoid exposure.' Air district officials said a Spare the Air Alert has not been issued as pollutant levels do not exceed national health standards. Real-time smoke pollution levels can be monitored using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Fire and Smoke Map website. On Saturday, BAAD issued an air quality advisory for portions of the Bay Area after flaring was seen at the Chevron Richmond refinery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Air quality advisory issued for Bay Area due to Canadian wildfires
The Bay Area Air District has issued an air quality advisory for the region on Monday and Tuesday, due to smoke from wildfires burning in multiple Canadian provinces. In a statement Monday, the agency said smoky and hazy skies may be visible, the smell of smoke may be possible and air quality may become unhealthy. Conditions may change rapidly, with the location and amount of smoke at ground level being hard to predict. Dozens of wildfires continue to rage in the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, leading to the evacuation of more than 25,000 people. As of Sunday afternoon, at least 89 wildfires were considered to be burning "out of control", according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. Smoke from the fires is also expected to impact other part of the U.S., with air quality alerts being issued for portions of the Upper Midwest. Air District officials say wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants and that exposure is unhealthy, even for short periods of time. The elderly, children and those with respiratory illnesses are particularly vulnerable and should take extra precautions. The agency said a Spare the Air alert is not in effect, as pollutant levels are not expected to exceed the national 24-hour health standard. Residents are urged to check the EPA's Fire and Smoke Map at for real-time smoke pollution levels in your area.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Contra Costa supervisor to host town hall on Martinez refinery fire
Contra Costa County Supervisor Shanelle Scales-Preston will hold a town hall meeting Thursday evening on last month's Martinez Refining Company fire. The meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at John Muir Elementary School at 205 Vista Way in Martinez. The refinery is in Scales-Preston's District 5. Scales-Preston will be joined by representatives of Contra Costa Health, the refinery, Contra Costa's hazardous materials team, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the county's Community Warning System, Bay Area Air District, Martinez Public Works Department, and the Contra Costa Water District. An explosion and fire were reported at approximately 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1, when two workers opened equipment while preparing for planned maintenance on a process unit. MRC, which is owned by PBF Energy Inc., said hydrocarbon material started leaking, prompting workers to flee. The material caught fire, which spread into a blaze that produced heavy smoke and burned for three days. The county issued a shelter-in-place alert at 4:49 p.m. Feb. 1 for neighborhoods near the refinery, and the alert was lifted at about 9 p.m. Six workers were injured, though none seriously, refinery officials said. MRC said 170 barrels -- 7,140 gallons -- of hydrocarbon materials were released during the fire, most of which they said were consumed by the flames. Contra Costa Health said chemicals and combustion byproducts from the fire included those that cause cancer, heart and lung disease. County health officer Dr. Ori Tzvieli said Martinez residents were fortunate the wind blew most of the toxic smoke north of the refinery, away from populated areas. CCH also said air quality measurements taken during the incident showed concentrations of chemicals in the air during the event were mostly below the threshold considered dangerous. MRC in a 30-day report after the fire said that because of flaring arising from the unplanned shutdown of refinery operating units to respond to the fire, more than 500 pounds of sulfur dioxide were released. The Bay Area Air District cited MRC for visible emissions and odor caused by the fire, for visible emissions and fallout exceeding standards, and for not operating equipment as needed. CCH said air district samples taken during the fire were consistent with its findings: that cancer-causing chemicals in the air north of the refinery were above "historical background levels." MRC said it expects to be done investigating the fire by April 30. The refinery has experienced multiple problems the past few years, including releases of coke dust -- a black, sooty substance created during the petroleum refining process. The most notable case was a release of 20-24 tons of spent catalyst on Thanksgiving 2022 that coated homes and vehicles of Martinez residents, who weren't made aware of the release until two days later.
