HOMEWOOD – Air quality around Lake Tahoe fell to dangerous levels Tuesday as wildfire smoke spread north from the Caldor fire and settled on communities along the lake’s west shore.
airnow, which tracks the amount of fine particulate matter affecting air quality across the U.S., reported figures ranging from 400s in the Truckee area to 559s in Homewoods north of Sugar Pine Point State Park — a number that’s so high. It exceeds the normal scale of the monitor.
The air quality index usually ranges from 0 to 500, with lower numbers indicating healthier, smoke-free air and higher numbers indicating more pollution.
Air quality was slightly better in the South Lake Tahoe area and the eastern shore of the lake toward Carson City, but pollution remained in the 100s, when the air was in the “unhealthy” range and people in vulnerable groups were advised to avoid all She goes. outdoor activity.
Nevertheless, slight change in wind direction is expected to provide relief throughout the day. In a smoke briefing for the area, the US Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program said conditions should improve by 4 p.m. in the Placerville area near the northwestern edge of the Caldor Fire, while Tahoe City, Truckee and Reno were . The air quality is expected to see a slight improvement – although it remains at unhealthy levels – during the evening hours.
East of the Caldor Fire, much of the Sacramento area — along with the entirety of the Bay Area to the south — was spared Tuesday from smoke, with both areas reporting good to moderate air quality.
