BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Air Quality Management District (BCAQMD) and Butte County Department of Public Health (BCPH) are reminding the community that wildfire smoke in Butte County is possible throughout the year but is most likely during the summer and autumn seasons. There are steps that you can take to prepare your home or business to reduce the effects of smoke during wildfire events.

There are also more resources now than ever before in Butte County to keep track of wildfire smoke.

The major air pollutant of concern during wildfires is fine particulate matter (PM2.5). While all persons may experience varying degrees of symptoms, people at increased risk include: young children, older adults, pregnant women, people who smoke, people who work outside, people experiencing homelessness, and people with respiratory conditions.

Symptoms of exposure to wildfire smoke may include, but are not limited to, coughing, watery and itchy eyes, headaches, and difficulty breathing. Exposure to smoke can reduce the body’s ability to fight infection and viruses and can worsen the symptoms of respiratory illnesses, such as COVID-19.

The following are recommendations to prepare for wildfire smoke events:

• Check with your doctor about what you should do during smoke events if any family member has respiratory illnesses, including asthma, or heart or lung disease.

• Stock up on high efficiency air filters (rated MERV-13 or as high as your system allows) for your HVAC system to filter out smoke particles. If your home does not have a central HVAC system, consider purchasing a portable air cleaner to create a “safe room” in your home (avoid Ozone-producing air purifiers).

• Be familiar with your community’s resources for “clean air spaces” or places that you can go to cool down and escape the smoke safely, such as malls, book stores, and theaters.

• Track air quality in your area through websites or mobile apps to plan your activity before heading out. The BCAQMD website (www.butteairquality.com) has daily air quality forecasts as well as links to real-time air quality data.

The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov includes official monitoring stations as well as unofficial sensors including many installed by BCAQMD in valley, foothill, and mountain communities.

• Be prepared with a correctly-fitting N-95 respirator if you need to spend time outdoors during smoky conditions.

Please note: N-95 masks are not intended for children. Wearing an N-95 mask can be dangerous for individuals with lung and heart conditions. Remember that a dust mask, bandana, or medical mask will not filter out smoke!