Lake County Air Quality Management District

11/22/2024

Annual Lake County Burn Ban Lifted on Friday, November 22, 2024

The annual Lake County Burn Ban for 2024 is lifted as of 9:00 am, Friday, November 22, 2024 with CalFire’s declaration that Fire Season hazardous conditions have abated, fire season requirements have been lifted, and CalFire is transiting to winter preparedness. Burn permits are required for all outdoor burning in the Lake County Air Basin. Residential and Agricultural burn permits can be obtained online at WWW.LCAQMD.NET or by appointment at the District office.

A Smoke Management Plan Burn Permit is required for multi-day burns, overnight burns, standing vegetation burns, whole tree or vine removal, burns over 20 acres in one day, and any other burn where significant smoke impacts may occur or sensitive receptors may be impacted. A Smoke Management Plan can be obtained at the Lake County Air Quality Management District office, call 707-263-7000 to make an appointment. Bring a map showing the burn location (https://gispublic.co.lake.ca.us/portal/home/), burn site coordinates (GPS locations), parcel number or address, acres to be burned, and details of vegetation to be burned.

A fee is required for all burn permits, payable at the time the permit is issued. Smoke Management Plans, Agricultural burn permits and Residential burn permits are $34. In person payments may be made by cash, check, or money order. Online permit payment is by credit card only.

Only clean dry vegetation that was grown on the property may be burned. Residential burn permits require a one (1.0) acre or larger lot of record, a burn location that is at least 100 feet from all neighbors, and at least 30 feet from any structure in order to qualify. Read your burn permit carefully and follow all the conditions. Please be considerate of your neighbors. A permit does not allow you to create health problems for others. You can be liable for health care costs, fines, and other costs resulting from your burning.

Consider composting or using the vegetative waste pickup provided with your waste collection service as an alternative to burning leaves. Lake County’s joint Fire Agencies and Air Quality Management District’s open burning program has incorporated both fire safety and air quality management since 1987. Thank you for your cooperation this burn season.

The presss release can be found athttps://www.lcaqmd.net/mt-content/uploads/2024/11/lcaqmd-burn-ban-lifted-2024.pdf

08/20/2021

AIR QUALITY SMOKE ADVISORY
Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: August 20 - 22, 2021

Smoke and haze continues to impact the Lake County Air Basin today. Multiple fires including the Dixie Fire, the McFarland Fire, the Monument Fire, and other fires burning throughout California and Oregon are creating regional smoke impacts throughout Lake County and Northern California. Calmer winds along with relatively stable air has settled over our region. The lack of mixing and westerly winds has resulted in most areas of Lake County to experiencing Unhealthy air quality today.

All areas of Lake County have experienced intermittent air quality impacts from “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” to “Hazardous” today. The air quality forecast for Saturday will range from “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS” (AQI of 101-150) to “UNHEALTHY” (AQI of 151-200) with areas at higher elevations experiencing the most smoke impact. Current weather models indicate that we will start seeing some smoke clearing on Saturday and significant clearing on Sunday. Most areas should reach the “MODERATE” or “GOOD” thresholds. This forecast is based on the latest weather, monitoring, fire activity information and will be updated as necessary.

The District is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the County. Additionally, you may go to WWW.LCAQMD.NET and follow the Quick Links for Air Monitoring for current smoke and air quality conditions.

Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and elevation. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults.

These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.

Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:
• Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible.
• Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp
coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems.
• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors.
• Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If
available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
• Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.

If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your doctor if you have symptoms that worsen. Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have repeated coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness.

Localized areas of unhealthy air quality are possible throughout this fire season. Take appropriate measures whenever smoke is present.

The mission of the lake County Air Quality Management District (LCAQMD) is to maintain healthful ambient air quality for the residents and visitors of the Lake County Air Basin.  The Air Basin is a Federally and State recognized geographic area that is the same as the county boundary.  The Distric...

08/14/2021

AIR QUALITY SMOKE ADVISORY
Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: August 13 - 15, 2021

The smoke and haze has impacted all areas of the Lake County Air Basin over the past several days. Multiple fires including the Dixie Fire, the McFarland Fire, the Monument Fire, the River Complex Fires, and other fires burning in Northern California and Oregon are creating the regional smoke impacts throughout Lake County and California.

All areas of Lake County have experienced intermittent air quality impacts from Modeate to Hazardous over the past week. Overall air quality for the past two days has remained “Moderate” to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”. The air quality forecast for the weekend will range from “Moderate” to “UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS”. There is a moderate potential for “Unhealthy for all” conditions when strong inversion conditions develop in the overnight hours. The regional weather patterns are expected to keep the heaviest smoke concentrations North of the air basin. This forecast is based on the latest weather, monitoring, fire activity information and will be updated as necessary.

The District is actively monitoring the smoke impacts throughout the County. Additionally, you may go to WWW.LCAQMD.NET and follow the Quick Links for Air Monitoring for current smoke and air quality conditions. Current particulate levels in Lake County range from “Moderate” to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups”.

Concentrations of smoke may vary depending upon location, weather, and elevation. Smoke from wildfires and structure fires contain harmful chemicals that can affect your health. Smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. People who are at greatest risk of experiencing symptoms due to smoke include: those with respiratory disease (such as asthma), those with heart disease, young children, and older adults.

These sensitive populations should stay indoors and avoid prolonged activity. All others should limit prolonged or heavy activity and time spent outdoors. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke. Seek medical help if you have symptoms that worsen or become severe.

Follow these general precautions to protect your health during a smoke event:
• Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise.
• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible.
• Do not run fans that bring smoky outdoor air inside – examples include swamp
coolers, whole-house fans, and fresh air ventilation systems.
• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors.
Change the standard air conditioner filter to a medium or high efficiency filter. If
available, use the “re-circulate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
• Do not smoke, fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.

If you have lung disease (including asthma) or heart disease, closely monitor your health and contact your doctor if you have symptoms that worsen. Consider leaving the area until smoke conditions improve if you have repeated coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea, unusual fatigue, lightheadedness.

Localized areas of unhealthy air quality are possible throughout this fire season. Take appropriate measures whenever smoke is present.

The mission of the lake County Air Quality Management District (LCAQMD) is to maintain healthful ambient air quality for the residents and visitors of the Lake County Air Basin.  The Air Basin is a Federally and State recognized geographic area that is the same as the county boundary.  The Distric...