Current Conditions 

Currently, Sacramento County is not affected by wildfire smoke. When smoke impacts the county, this page will be updated. 

Effects of Wildfire Smoke

Wildfires are now a regular occurrence in California and can happen at any time of the year. Smoke from these wildfires often impacts the Sacramento Region.  The amount of smoke and which areas are impacted is largely dependent on wind direction and can change throughout the day. Smoke is unhealthy to breathe. If you smell smoke, you are advised to remove yourself from the area or go indoors. For more information on the health effects of wildfire smoke, visit the CDC website.

From the Spare The Air website

Wildfire Smoke Information and PM 2.5 Monitor Map

The PM 2.5 Monitor Map is activated on SpareTheAir.com when a wildfire smoke episode is anticipated or occurs. This map provides EPA's NowCast PM 2.5 levels at all regional monitors, including any temporary monitors placed and brought online by Sac Metro Air District, another air district or CARB.

Real-time Air Quality Readings

Real-time air quality readings are derived using EPA's NowCast algorithm, which uses longer averages during periods of stable air quality and shorter averages when air quality is changing rapidly, such as during a fire. NowCast allows current conditions maps to align more closely with what people are actually seeing or experiencing.

Free Air Quality Mobile App

Choose a link below to download the free Sacramento Region Air Quality app. The app displays EPA's NowCast for each monitoring site in the Sacramento Region. Push notifications for wildfire smoke alerts are also available through the app.

If you are a school, business or public agency, follow the 5-Step Plan along with the Air Quality Action Charts below to help you make decisions that will help keep students, employees and residents as safe as possible during smoky days.

FOR SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES and PUBLIC AGENCIES: 

5 Steps to Take During a Wildfire Smoke Event

FOR SCHOOLS:  

Quick Reference Contact Guide

Air Quality Action Chart

FOR BUSINESSES:  Air Quality Action Chart 

FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES:  Air Quality Action Chart 

FOR GENERAL PUBLIC: Air Quality Action Chart

Actions for Everyone 

When wildfire smoke impacts us, we can all help by not adding more pollution into our air (link).

• Delay landscaping and leaf blowing
• Reduce speeds when driving on dirt roads 
• Prevent dust from demolition and construction projects
• Avoid outdoor cooking or recreational burning

Visit Spare The Air.com to sign up for Air Alerts and find other tips and actions you can take to reduce air pollution. 

​Wildfire Smoke Air Pollution Emergency Plan

After the devastating wildfire season in 2018, Assembly Bill 661 (K. McCarty, 2019) was signed into state law. The legislation mandates the Sac Metro Air District develop a Wildfire Smoke Air Pollution Emergency Plan in full collaboration with the Sacramento County Health Officer and in consultation with other agencies - local emergency services offices, school districts, the Sacramento Planning agency and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The plan will serve as an information resource for Sacramento schools, local agencies, businesses and the public during wildfire smoke air pollution emergencies. The plan specifically addresses these main elements:

1. Health protective recommendations and guidelines at different tiers of air quality 
2. Clear designation of responsible agencies and their respective roles and actions 
3. Recommendations and best practices for businesses and public agencies 
4. Strategies for vulnerable populations

Current Status of the Emergency Plan

The plan will be finalized and brought before the Sac Metro Air District Board for adoption in Summer 2022. Tools available now for use include Air Quality Action Charts and other helpful outreach flyers (see above). Annual summaries of Emergency Plan efforts submitted to AB 661 author, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty, are also available:

2020 Status Update

2021 Status Update

Survey of Local Businesses, Public Agencies and Non-Profit Organizations

As part of the Emergency Plan development process, the Sac Metro Air District performed a survey of business, public agency and non-profit sectors in Sacramento County to find out how wildfire smoke events impact them and how they respond to protect their employees from excess exposure to smoke. To see the results of this survey, click here.

Health Information

Wildfire smoke includes particulate matter (PM). PM can be directly emitted, as with fires, or it can form in the atmosphere from reactions of gases such as nitrogen oxides. PM from wildfire smoke can cause serious health impacts.

The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles (known as PM 2.5 or fine particulate matter) pose the greatest problems because they bypass the body’s natural defenses and can get deep into your lungs and potentially your bloodstream. Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart.

Sac Metro Air District monitors PM 2.5 concentrations at several sites throughout Sacramento County.

Long-term exposure to particulate pollution can result in significant health problems including:

• Increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing
• Decreased lung function
• Aggravated asthma
• Development of chronic respiratory disease in children
• Development of chronic bronchitis or chronic obstructive lung disease
• Irregular heartbeat
• Nonfatal heart attacks
• Premature death in people with heart or lung disease, including death from lung cancer

Short-term exposure to particulate pollution can:

• Aggravate lung disease causing asthma attacks and acute bronchitis
• Increase susceptibility to respiratory infections
• Cause heart attacks and arrhythmias in people with heart disease

Even if you are healthy, you may experience temporary symptoms, such as:

• Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Coughing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath