LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Air Quality Management District said the smoke making its way into the county’s air basin is coming primarily from a fast-burning fire to the north.

Air Pollution Control Officer Doug Gearhart said the Carr fire burning in Shasta County is resulting in smoke and haze in Lake County.

He told Lake County News that fires in Southern Oregon also are believed to be having local impacts.

According to the National Interagency Coordination Center Situation Report, as of just before 4:30 p.m. the Carr fire has burned over 28,763 acres and is only 10-percent contained. Expected containment of this fire is unknown.

The fire is burning in timber and brush with extreme fire behavior. Weather forecasts indicate continued hot dry conditions which may result in intermittent smoke impacts for the Lake County air basin through the weekend.

An eight-acre fire, the McNab fire, also was burning near Hopland in Mendocino County on Thursday evening, when Cal Fire said it was 20-percent contained.

Air quality conditions in Lake County on Thursday were good with smoke visible in the basin though it remains elevated, said Gearhart. As the temperature cools overnight, some impacts from the smoke settling may occur in the county.

He said ultrafine particulate levels may be elevated into the moderate to unhealthy for sensitive individuals range. Localized areas may experience intermittent particulate levels in the unhealthy range should worst case weather conditions develop.

The air quality forecast for Lake County on Thursday night and Friday is “good” to “moderate,” with localized higher concentration areas possible, according to Gearhart.

All areas of Lake County may be significantly impacted should meteorological conditions worsen. Meteorological forecasts models indicate the smoke may be present over eastern and southern Lake County for the next couple days, but with the west winds developing, smoke impacts should start to clear through the weekend.

Smoky conditions can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and air passages, Gearhart said. These conditions can be hazardous for sensitive individuals including young children, the elderly, and individuals with heart conditions, and those with chronic lung disease such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions. Remember to take precautions and plan ahead as smoke conditions can change quickly.

Gearhart said the “good” to “moderate,” with the potential for localized areas in the “unhealthy for sensitive individuals” air quality forecast results from visible smoke over Lake County and the potential for smoke to settle into the basin.

The potential for degraded air quality, haze, and particulate from the ongoing wildfires are expected to continue throughout Lake County, until the wildfires are contained, Gearhart said.