Community Corner
Unhealthy Air In Concord, Bay Area Expected Through Tuesday
Mt. Diablo Unified schools are closed Friday because of the unhealthy air quality.
CONCORD, CA — Winter Spare the Air Alerts will continue through next Tuesday in Concord and throughout much of the Bay Area as a result of smoky conditions caused by the Camp Fire in Butte County, according to regional air quality officials.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District all week has issued the alerts, which prohibit the burning of wood and other solid fuels, and district officials said the bad air quality will continue into next week.
Thursday, the particulate matter pollution — or PM2.5— in Concord in the district's Eastern Zone was registering between 166 and 194.
Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
A PM2.5 of 151 or greater is considered unhealthy.
"It is critical that Bay Area residents not burn wood and further contribute to the unhealthy air quality we are experiencing," air district executive officer Jack Broadbent said in a statement.
Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Air district officials said people should limit outdoor activity as much as possible when the alerts are in effect and that new N95 or greater respirator masks should be used if possible when outdoors.
As a result of the unhealthy air quality, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District will be closed Friday.
"The forecasted air quality for tomorrow is projected to be at a more hazardous level; we also are concerned with the cumulative effect of poor air quality," district officials said. "We thank you and your families for your patience during what has been a very difficult time for our Northern California communities and wish you a restful Thanksgiving."
The Contra Costa County Office of Education has since announced all 18 public school districts in the county will be closed Friday. All CCCOE programs will also be closed.
"While it is never an easy decision to cancel school for even one day, we, along with our district superintendents felt it was in the best interest of our students, staff members and communities to do this," said Karen Sakata, Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools. “We will continue to work alongside our school districts as they communicate this decision to their communities.”
Classes Friday at all three Contra Costa Community College campuses have been canceled, as well.
- Poor Bay Area Air Quality Closes Colleges, Universities
- Death Toll Climbs To 56 In Camp Fire, 130 Unaccounted For
By Bay City News Service and Patch local editor Maggie Avants
