A thick haze settled into the Valley for most of last week, prompting health officials to issue warnings that residents limit their outdoor activity.

The smoke is pouring into the Valley from wildfires scorching most of Northern California. According to CalFire, more than 1,200 fires burned nearly 200,000 acres from Madera County north to Siskiyou County at the Oregon border. The warning is effective until the fires are extinguished.

ìWinds are transporting smoke from fires throughout California into all eight counties of the San Joaquin Valley air basin, which include: San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Valley portions of Kern,î said Shawn Ferreria, Senior Air Quality Specialist from the Valley Air District.

Air District monitoring stations throughout the Valley are picking up elevated levels of particulate matter from smoke. Exposure to particle pollution can cause serious health problems, aggravate lung disease, cause asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, and increase risk of respiratory infections. In people with heart disease, short-term exposure to particle pollution has been linked to heart attacks and arrhythmias, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Residents of the eight counties are advised to use caution. People with heart or lung diseases should follow their doctorsí advice for dealing with episodes of unhealthy air quality. Additionally, older adults and children should avoid prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion.

Everyone else should reduce prolonged exposure, strenuous activities or heavy exertion. Despite warnings, most cities and organizations have not canceled any of their outdoor activities. The Valley Air District is forecasting that the conditions could persist through this weekend as Fourth of July fireworks will only add to the particulate matter in the air.

Alex Picavet, spokersperson for National Park Service in Sequoia National Park, said all of the campgrounds are still booked through Fourth of July.

ìWe have had the worst air quality levels that we have ever had, but we are also taking more precise measurements than we ever have as well,î Picavet said. ìI think most people are still coming to get out of the heat, they just might not take a hike while they are here.î

Picavet said ozone levels are actually reduced to safer levels above 8,000 feet in elevation. However, anything underneath that, rangers who would normally lead hikes to the top of local attractions, such as Morro Rock, will instead give their talk at the parking lot on the base of the mountain.

ìWe havenít canceled anything that we normally do and everything is open for summer,î she said. ìI think some of the people who normally go to Yosemite have planned to come here instead. So we are expecting about the same number of people.î

On Friday, June 27, Tulare County Health Officials provided information regarding precautions people may take to prevent health problems. Smoke from forest fires present health risks for everyone, especially people with lung or heart diseases.

ìWe have been urging residents who have respiratory or heart conditions to take precautions when air is very unhealthy,î said Dr. Karen Haught, Public Health Officer for Tulare County.

The Department of Health reminds people with asthma to develop an asthma management plan with their physicians.

An asthma management plan involves tracking symptoms to determine when to use additional medications or seek further medical treatment.

The National Institute of Health has comprehensive information on managing asthma on their web site, www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/lung/index.htm.

Those with other lung diseases or infections should contact their physicians to learn how to avoid serious complications that may result from forest fires.

Often, people who have not been previously diagnosed with lung or heart disease may find themselves having problems in smoky conditions.

Symptoms of potential lung and/or heart problems include tightness of the chest, chest pain, shortness of breath, or sudden, overwhelming fatigue.

Tulare County Health Officials caution that residents should be prepared. People with asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and other lung diseases should make sure they are on medication and have at least a five day supply on hand at all times through fire season.

Residents are encouraged to listen for radio and television messages about fires in your area, and to keep a supply of non-perishable groceries on hand, especially foods that do not require cooking.

In the event of a wildfire, stay indoors and limit your activity. Check for the ìre-circulationî function on your air conditioner.

If smoke is present, it will be easier to breathe indoors if air is re-circulating instead of drawing smoky air from indoors.

If you are healthy, youíre usually not at a major risk from short-term exposures to smoke.

Still, itís a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it. Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic matter burn.

The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles.

These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis.

Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases - and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have symptoms such as chest pain, tightness of the chest, shortness of breath, or severe fatigue. This is important not only for people with chronic lung or heart disease, but also for individuals who have not been previously diagnosed with such illnesses. Smoke can ìunmaskî or produce symptoms of such diseases.

The Valley Air District covers eight counties including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and San Joaquin Valley air basin portions of Kern.

For more information, visit http://www.valleyair.org/ or call the nearest District office: Modesto (209) 557-6400, Fresno (559) 230-6000 and Bakersfield (661) 326-6900.

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