Update: Why people are smelling smoke in Redding and west Shasta County

Jessica Skropanic, Redding Record Searchlight
Updated ·3 min read

Wildfire smoke from several fires burning in forests throughout the North State made the air over Shasta County unhealthy for some people on Friday morning.

There's smoke from the Head Fire, which grew to 4,000 acres, up from 3,500 on Thursday. Also contributing smoke is the 2,000-acre Deep Fire, which grew from 1,500 acres on Thursday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Those and more than two dozen other fires burning in the Shasta-Trinity, Klamath and Lassen National Forests increased pollution to levels considered unhealthy for people in some age groups and for those with certain health issues, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow pollution meter.

Pollution levels on Friday were high enough in parts of Siskiyou and Trinity counties to be considered unhealthy for all people, according to the EPA.

Smoke from fires burning in parts of Trinity County was so thick, aircraft couldn't help firefighters battle the blazes. "That is (when) the mule train is utilized to get supplies and personnel into the fire area," the Shasta-Trinity National Forest reported.

Smoke was too thick for aircraft to help firefighters battling the Deep Fire and other fires burning in steep terrain in Trinity County on Aug. 17, 2023; so crews used mules to bring supplies and personnel to the fire, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Smoke was too thick for aircraft to help firefighters battling the Deep Fire and other fires burning in steep terrain in Trinity County on Aug. 17, 2023; so crews used mules to bring supplies and personnel to the fire, according to the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

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Scroll down for more information on smoke, how to check pollution levels in your town's air, and who is most at risk for developing health problems from wildfire smoke.

Original story

Smoke from wildfires burning in the North State is polluting the air over western Shasta County.

That bad air probably won't be going away soon. The U.S. Forest Service reported at least 30 fires are burning this week in Trinity, Siskiyou and Lassen counties, most ignited by lightning from dry thunderstorms on Monday and Tuesday. Those include the 1,500-acre Deep Fire burning in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the 3,500-acre Head Fire burning in the Klamath National Forest west of Yreka, the Forest Service reported.

After a clear morning, smoke from the Deep Fire ― burning west of Trinity Lake in Trinity County ― rolled over Redding on Thursday afternoon. Air quality measurements showed a quick jump from clear "green" air quality levels to moderate pollution levels around 1 p.m., according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's AirNow pollution meter.

Smoke is seen rising from the Trinity Mountains after a forest fire burned at Stuart Fork Trailhead on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.
Smoke is seen rising from the Trinity Mountains after a forest fire burned at Stuart Fork Trailhead on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

With more lightning-bearing thunderstorms on the way through the weekend in parts of Siskiyou and Trinity counties, firefighters are watching for more fire starts, Forest Service officials said.

The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of Siskiyou County due to high fire risk from dry storms ― ones in which rain evaporates before it can hit the ground and put out a fire. Hopefully, the storms expected later in the week might be more wet, giving rain a chance to hit the ground and help put out the fires, said Acting Public Information Officer Janine Summy with the Klamath National Forest.

Smoke from fires burning in the Klamath National Forest fills the air along a closed stretch of Highway 96 in Siskiyou County on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023
Smoke from fires burning in the Klamath National Forest fills the air along a closed stretch of Highway 96 in Siskiyou County on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023

More: Lightning sparks 30 fires in Northern California, including Head Fire prompting evacuations

While smoke can cause health problems and exacerbate ongoing ones including asthma, moderate pollution levels aren’t significant enough to be dangerous to most people. "However, pollution in this range may pose a moderate health concern for a very small number of individuals. People who are unusually sensitive to ozone or particle pollution may experience respiratory symptoms," according to the EPA.

More: More Siskiyou communities ordered to evacuate. Here's where the Head Fire is burning.

"Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine particles from burning vegetation" as well as building "and other materials," according to the according to Shasta County's smoke and air quality information page. "Even someone who is healthy can get sick" from wildfire smoke "if there's enough smoke in the air," according to the county's Air Quality Management District.

To check your town’s air quality, go to the EPAs AirNow website at airnow.gov.

To track where smoke is going over the North State visit the redding.com smoke map at data.redding.com/fires.

Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and news stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Smoke from Northern California wildfires is settling over Redding