Jun 27, 2008

Air pollution regulators forecast 'smoky' skies

Officials caution residents to limit exercise

By Denis Cuff and Johnathan Lockett / Bay Area News Group

Air pollution regulators are advising Bay Area residents again today to limit outdoor exercise because of the wildfire smoke that continues to blanket much of Northern California and Nevada.

Forecasters said they still can't say when the smoke will disperse, and a chance of dry lightning strikes in the hills and mountains of Northern California today and this weekend could ignite more wildfires like that ones that started last weekend.

"We are concerned about the chance of lightning," said Ralph Boorman, a spokesman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. "The smoke is lingering, and we can't say when we will get relief."

The air district forecast air quality today as "unhealthy for people sensitive to pollution" in the East Bay and North Bay in an area stretching from Livermore, Walnut Creek and Brentwood through Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield and through much of Napa, Marin and Sonoma counties.

Even healthy people in those areas are advised to limit prolonged exertion outdoors.

"We're asking people to exercise caution in limiting their exposure to the smoky air," Boorman said.

In the rest of the Bay Area, where air quality is forecast to be "moderate" today, people sensitive to air pollution are advised to limit outdoor exercise.