The Northern California wildfire has prompted officials to close several school districts Friday due to wide-spread smoke seriously affecting air quality for all in San Francisco and surrounding areas.
Smoke from Butte County's Camp Fire, the nation's deadliest wildfire in a century, has enveloped the city, prompting authorities to report "unhealthy" and "very unhealthy" conditions from San Jose north to San Francisco, as far east as Stockton and as far northeast as Auburn in Northern California, according to ABC7 News updates and Bay Area air quality maps.
The "very unhealthy" alerts mean residents may begin to experience health effects from smoke exposure. More sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects in the East Bay, North Bay and the Peninsula.
Officials warned all residents to stay indoors, as the National Weather Service predicts that smoke will linger in the area through next week, as SFGate reports.
Among the Bay Area schools slated for closure due to the smoke hazards are all public schools in San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano and Marin counties. Santa Clara County schools will remain open, but authorities canceled outdoor activities, moving some indoors, as SFGate reports.
The Napa Valley Unified School District and the St. Helena Unified School District – both in Napa County -- will close Friday.
Most San Mateo County schools planned closures on Friday, but a smattering will open, as monitored by the San Mateo Office of Education. For a full list of area school closures on Friday, ABC7 News maintains an updated list that includes colleges and universities.
Health officials recommend wearing a mask to protect yourself from harmful air, according to ABC7 news. Air quality definitions:
Good: Air Quality is considered satisfactory and air pollution poses little or no risk. Moderate: Air Quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution. Sensitive Groups: Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected
Unhealthy: Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy: Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.
Hazardous: Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.
Data from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District indicates that San Francisco and parts of the East Bay dipped from "red" to "purple" levels, as reported by SFGate. The red-to-purple levels indicate that particulate matter could affect respiratory conditions for all residents.
At least 56 people were killed in the Camp Fire and 300 remain unaccounted for a week after the flames swept through, reports CBS News.
Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said Wednesday night that 130 people were missing. His office later released a list of 300 who were unaccounted for, though spokeswoman Miranda Bowersox said some of those may simply not have checked in with officials or family.
As firefighters continue to fight the Camp Fire, at least 140,000 acres burned, 40 percent of the area is contained and 11,862 structures, including homes, have burned.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
