Valley Air District relaunches Clean Air Rooms programs, offering free air purifies
A San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District program aims to mitigate the adverse health effects of wildfire smoke on Central Valley residents.
The district's relaunched Clean Air Rooms program provides qualifying Valley residents with free single-room air purifiers.
“Smoke from severe wildfires can inundate the Valley and make its way into homes, causing health impacts to our most vulnerable residents,” Valley Air District Director Samir Sheikh said. “This program is designed to help families who may not otherwise be able to buy an in-home air purifier to protect their families during wildfires.”
How the program works
Eligible first-time applicants, specifically those in disadvantaged and low-income communities, can apply for a portable air filtration unit for their homes.
Valley residents can check their eligibility and apply for the program online. Approved applicants will be shipped one room air purifier and one filter replacement.
The air purifiers are certified by the California Air Resources Board and HEPA-rated and can reduce indoor particulate matter by over 90% in well-sealed environments, according to Valley Air District officials. The device also helps purify the air during periods of poor air quality caused by wildfires.
Dangers of wildfire season
Fire season is in full swing, and already smoke from wildfires in Canada has drifted down into the U.S. The fires and wind patterns caused extremely poor air quality across much of the eastern U.S., with alerts in effect all the way from New England to the Southeast.
In all, more than 100 million Americans were affected by air quality alerts, the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Central Valley is known for its poor air quality, which can be linked to several factors. More recently, nearby wildfires have contributed to hazardous air conditions.
Wildfire smoke from the 2021 the KNP Complex Fire in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks caused prolonged poor air quality in Visalia, Tulare, Porterville and Three Rivers.
Particulate matter caused by wildfires can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. People with heart or lung disease should follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of PM exposure.
People suffering from respiratory conditions, young children and the elderly, are especially susceptible to the health effects from this form of pollution. Residents experiencing poor air quality due to wildfire smoke should move to a filtered, air-conditioned environment with windows closed.
For more information, visit www.valleyair.org or call the Fresno district office at 230-6000.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Valley Air District relaunches Clean Air Rooms programs
