Air quality remains good despite orange hue

SALINAS, Calif. (KION) - Many people were waking up Wednesday morning looking at the sky as wildfire smoke has turned the sky an orange hue over the central coast.

KION spoke to Richard Stedman with the Monterey Bay Air Resource District who says the air quality at their testing sites remain at good to moderate. The Monterey Bay Air Resource Center has different testing locations on the Central Coast that they say are at a breathable heights.

MBARD says the unhealthy smoke and poorer air quality remains in the higher atmosphere where airplanes fly and potentially downwind of the Dolan Fire.

Stedman says, for today, those working outdoors should be fine. However, with wildfires becoming more of a problem in this area, he suggests to people with weakened immune systems or pre-existing conditions to speak with your doctor about if living in this area is still healthy option or if relocating would be better.

With so much concern in our area, medical professionals at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital began adding information about the wildfires and air quality to their weekly Covid-19 reports.

A hospital spokesperson tells KION they did see a spike in patents in recent weeks due to the air quality from the River and Carmel fires and they do say another spike of patients is possible.

Addionally, Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System recently cancelled their annual Asthma Camp due to Covid-19. This decision is showing to be wise, as the wildfires and poor air quality would have forced a number of days to be cancelled.