Hazy skies expected to clear soon

People in inland Mendocino County woke up this morning to the familiar, heavy pall of wildfire smoke from northern California and even southern Oregon. California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in Del Norte and Siskiyou counties. The Six Rivers Forest Lightning Complex started in Del Norte and Humboldt counties ten days ago, while the Happy Camp Complex in the Klamath National Forest in Siskiyou has been burning for almost two weeks.

Not far over the Oregon border, two wildfires are burning on national forest land in Curry County, west of Medford in the Rogue River region.

The Mendocino County Air Quality Management District warned today that particulate matter concentrations range from levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy. Even healthy adults can be affected by smoke, and Cloth facial coverings that are used to slow the spread of covid-19 offer little protection against wildfire smoke. The district advises everyone to stay indoors as much as possible, and not to run fans that bring in air from outdoors. If you have lung disease, including asthma, or heart disease, keep a close eye on your health and contact your doctor if your symptoms get worse.

Jonathan Gardner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Eureka, says relief is on the way, with cooler temperatures and maybe even a little rain in the forecast.