California's crippling fire season has smoky consequences for Lemoore residents

The nearest blaze may have been a wildfire reported in the Coalinga area. The National Weather Service forecasts that the air quality probably will not improve until the fires die out.

In Lemoore, the smoke is thick enough to blanket the city and can be visibly seen. The smoke is so dense that it can block out the sun, allowing the casual observer to see it through the haze. Due to air pollution, it is probably wise to stay indoors as much as possible.

According to news reports, up to 62,000 Californians have had to flee nearby wildfires, and the evacuations and thick smoke arise from the warmest temperatures of the year as Valley temps exceeded the 100-degree mark. Fires threaten even more homes, mostly in northern California as 100,000 residents or more may be forced to evacuate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on its website, has good advice for those exposed to wildfire smoke. The smoke can hurt your eyes, irritate the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. The CDC encourages residents to check local air quality reports, listen for health warnings related to the fires, and keep indoor air as clean as possible and run an air conditioner. Also, avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. Burning candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves can increase indoor pollution. Vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Smoking also puts more pollution into the air. 

As of Thursday evening, California’s wildfires have burned more than 350,000 acres and the smoke is making the air unhealthy in many parts of California, including Lemoore.