June 6, 2004

Santa Barbara, CA-The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) today issued a health advisory for people living in areas affected by smoke from the Gaviota Fire burning in Santa Barbara County. The APCD recommends that adults and children in areas affected by smoke avoid outdoor activity, and stay indoors as much as possible. Smoke irritates the eyes, nose and throat, and is harmful to breathe, posing a special risk to adults and children with asthma or other respiratory diseases. APCD recommends that people consult their physicians if their symptoms worsen.

Areas affected by the smoke will change with the fire fighting efforts and with weather conditions. Said APCD Manager of Technology and Environmental Assessment Tom Murphy, "We recommend that everyone in areas where they can smell smoke take appropriate precautions to minimize their exposure."

For more information on smoke impacts, see www.airquality.org/smokeimpact, a web page developed for the public by the California Air Pollution Control Officer's Association. The page lists the health impacts of smoke and protective measures, and includes links to air quality forecasts, fire status information and satellite photos.

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HEALTH ADVISORY Harmful Smoke from The Gaviota Fire

HEALTH ADVISORY
Harmful Smoke from The Gaviota Fire