The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and Santa Barbara County Health Department have upgraded the Air Quality Watch to an Air Quality Alert for the Cuyama area, which is in closest proximity to the Madre Fire.

Smoke and ash from the Madre Fire is affecting air quality. Conditions can change quickly, and an Air Quality Watch remains in effect for the rest of the county.

“With the Fourth of July holiday this weekend, we also encourage people to be aware that spikes in air pollution are expected due to the use of personal fireworks, particularly in the Lompoc and Santa Maria areas,” the APCD and Health Department said.

“Historically, these spikes in air pollution around this holiday tend to occur in the late evening and early morning hours,” they said. “We encourage people to attend community Fourth of July celebrations instead of using personal fireworks.”

All Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to stay alert to local conditions:

  • Check the EPA Fire & Smoke map: fire.airnow.gov.
    o This map shows data from APCD’s permanent monitoring stations, as well as from temporary monitors and low-cost sensors. Using multiple data sets, this map allows you to keep tabs on trends in the air quality conditions and see a bigger picture of information.
  • Check readings available on APCD’s website. Our permanent monitoring stations are sophisticated devices that provide reliable readings from regional monitors located throughout the county.

Community members are also urged to pay attention to conditions around them. Levels of smoke and particles, and areas affected, will vary.

If you see or smell smoke in the air, be cautious and use common sense to protect your health and your family’s health.

Everyone, especially people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, children, and pregnant women should limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of smoke and particles are in the air.

When air quality reaches Unhealthy levels (Air Quality Index, or AQI, at 151 or greater), and/or if you see or smell smoke, it is recommended that everyone:

  • Head indoors and remain indoors, as much as possible – the best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible.
  • Avoid outdoor activity.
  • Close all windows and doors that lead outside to prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
  • Create a “clean air room” to keep indoor air quality safe. Turn on your High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifier if possible. For information on different ways to create a “clean air room,” click here.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to keep respiratory membranes moist.
  • If you are an essential worker and must work outside during wildfire smoke conditions, the use of a properly fitted N-95 mask provides protection.

If you have symptoms that may be related to exposure to smoke and soot, contact your doctor.

Symptoms include repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, and nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness.

When ash is present, county residents and landscapers are advised to not use leaf blowers because the blowers stir up ash and dust.

Ash and dust are larger particles, but over time, they break down into smaller, more harmful particles that can lodge deep into the lungs and cause serious health effects. Using leaf blowers contributes to the larger particles becoming smaller, hazardous particles, the APCD said.

“If ash is present in your area, sweep gently with a broom before mopping; HEPA vacuums are also recommended,” the APCD said.