MENDOCINO CO., 10/9/24 – Two prescribed burns in the Laytonville area prompted the Mendocino County Air Quality Management District to issue an air quality advisory Tuesday evening.
The advisory starts Wednesday morning and ends Friday.
According to the district, a prescribed burn in on Shamrock Ranch managed by Cal Fire may bring “unhealthy” air quality to Willits, Brooktrails, Laytonville and Round Valley in northern Mendocino County.
Shamrock Ranch is located just east of U.S. Highway 101 and south of Laytonville. The prescribed burn starts Wednesday and will wrap up Friday afternoon, said Cal Fire.
“This prescribed burn will treat approximately 2,000-acres of grasslands, chaparral, and understory vegetation within oak woodlands and mixed conifer habitats,” said Cal Fire, “creating a mosaic of variously burned vegetation and islands of unburned habitat.”
A second, smaller prescribed burn will take place Friday and Saturday north of Laytonville on lower Tenmile Creek. The burn is managed by the Eel River Recovery Project in partnership with private landowners and Cal Fire.
Both prescribed burns may be delayed or canceled based on weather and fuel conditions, said Cal Fire and the Eel River Recovery Project.
“While surrounding prescribed burns are active, expect unpredictable smoke impacts to air quality followed by multiple periods of some relief through the next few days,” said the district.
Heavy concentrations of smoke can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing and difficulty breathing, according to the district.
The district recommends the following when air quality condition are “unhealthy”:
- 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 an 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 “recirculate” or “recycle” setting on the unit.
- Consider creating a clean air room at home using a purchased or DIY HEPA air purifier.
- -Do not smoke or fry food, or do other things that will create indoor air pollution.
Air quality in Mendocino County can be monitored at https://fire.airnow.gov/.
Please find related coverage about this subject from The Mendocino Voice below.
It’s cannabis and grape harvest season, where majority of our craft cannabis and wine ag farmers are outside harvesting — this seems like an unfortunate decision to have extra controlled burns and air quality warnings this time of year, when a large part of Mendocino County’s economic community is spending time outside harvesting their crop, which smoke also negatively impacts. It’s hard to please everyone, but waiting until November could have been an easy solve: less people outdoors, cooler temps, damper conditions, etc.