How to Stay Safe During the Current Bay Area Fires

Our hearts are heavy as it feels like we all can’t catch a break with events in our world. 2020 has been full of struggle, but we want to reiterate that we’re truly in this together. We are sending our love to those who have been affected by the fires. As a response, we have gathered a short list of safety measures you can take right now to keep you and your families safe during the fires that are infiltrating into our neighborhoods —

stay inside, especially if you have a lung condition

It’s important for everyone to stay inside during this time as much as possible! We emphasize this more for those who have chronic lung conditions, especially since we are also still navigating the pandemic. However, we still encourage everyone to remain indoors, as breathing in smokey air is not good for anyone. Your pets can also be affected by poor air quality, so bring them inside too and make those potty breaks faster than usual.

airnow.gov is your best friend

Air quality updates can be found for any zip code at AirNow.gov. On the site, they rank your area’s air quality starting from Good, Moderate, Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, Unhealthy, Very Unhealthy, to finally, Hazardous. You can even find an air quality forecast for the week which is very helpful if you have plans these next coming weeks. We know some cities have improved in air quality, but it’s still important to double check before stepping outside as the fires haven’t been fully contained.

keep your windows closed

Even if you’re inside your home, smokey air can enter inside if you have your windows open. You are going to want to try to try your best to circulate clear air in whatever space you’re in. If you’re in you car, run your AC and keep those windows closed. The more you limit your exposure to the outside air, the better!