can you smell the smoke?

[johnny99]

Here at Stanford, there is a strong smell of smoke in the air this morning. I assume that the smoke from the Summit fire is blowing this way. Anyone know if there is an increased health risk from bicycling in smoky air? Thanks.

[kb5ql]

YES. I was thinking of biking today. Obviously a no go. It smells like a campfire on my clothes.

[kster]

I was riding in Fremont this morning for an hour and could also smell something in the air.

[Bostic]

All over Sunnyvale. At home and in the office, it's terrible.

[Ty.S]

I'm going to ride, the smell doesn't bother me. I smoked cigarettes for nearly 12 years, so a little campfire smell shouldn't be too bad. The wind however is still a pain..

[reidconti]

I didn't notice it at all at my home on Lafayette south of 237, but as I headed west on 237 today I drove into soup.

It's as smoky as anywhere up in Redwood Shores.. that wind is carrying it far!

[chucko58]

I can smell it in my office at NASA Ames as I write. That's a bit unusual.

[PAOLO P]

I hope not. I can smell it here in SF as well, and I've just come back from a bike ride.

[7rider]

It was clear and windless at 6 am this morning, but by 8 am, you could see and smell the smoke in the air. Last Friday afternoon, I didn't run at Rancho because of the heat. I might take a pass again today if the air doesn't clear up.

[xafofo]

it looks smoky/hazy here in berkeley, but the air seems fine and i don't smell anything

[daredevil]

I live in country where forest fires are common and have had more than one occasion where I would not ride but these were pretty extreme circumstances where even visibility was reduced. If you smell it but don't see it, I say go ahead and ride.

[jeffremer]

While I feel pretty bad for all the wildlife and the evacuated families I'm also getting a bit anxious about racing San Jose->Livermore Sunday and racing in Morgan Hill on Monday if there's that much smoke in the air. Hope they get a handle on this soon for everyone's sake.

[gpelpel]

It was all clear this morning but we can see the haze and smell the smoke in Lafayette.

[spingineer]

The Mercury-News has some tips on whether or not it is safe to
exercise outdoors when you can see or smell smoke in the air.

http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9362403


Summit fire health questions and answers
Mercury News
Article Launched: 05/23/2008 05:15:11 PM PDT

If the Summit fire keeps sending smoke to the valley, people might be
forced to celebrate Memorial Day weekend with board games and video
rentals instead of the normal barbecues and volley games. The Santa
Clara County Public Health Department offered advice on how to know if
it's safe to go outside.

Q Is smoke bad for me?

A If you are healthy, usually you are not at major risk of illness from smoke.

Q What should I do to protect myself?

A Use common sense. If it smells or looks smoky, stay indoors as much
as possible. Do not exercise or do any strenuous physical activity
outdoors.

Q How will I know if the smoke is affecting me?

A You may have a scratchy throat, cough, irritated sinuses, headaches,
runny nose, upset stomach or stinging eyes. Children and people with
lung disease may find it difficult to breathe as deeply or vigorously
as usual.

Q Who is most at risk?

A People at greater risk of illness from smoke include people with
heart or lung disease. Children and the elderly are also more
vulnerable.

Q If my kids are healthy, can I let them go out and play?

A No. If you can see or smell smoke, it is best to keep them indoors.

Q My eyes are itchy and stinging from the smoke. What should I do?

A First, try rinsing your eyes with clear, cool water. You can also
try using eye drops. If you continue to have a problem, call your
medical provider.

Q Should I still have a barbecue this weekend?

A If there's still heavy smoke in the air over the weekend, having a
barbecue will make the air worse in your area.

Q Once inside, should I run my air conditioner?

A Once indoors, keep your windows, doors and vents closed. If you have
an air conditioner, run it. Close the outside air intake, or decrease
the outside air exchange to a minimum of 20 percent.

[SharpT]

I was surprised today wasn't a "spare the air day". They say woodburning stoves heavily contribute to poor air quality, and there is one heck of a woodburning stove already going.

--
SharpT

[BottleRocket]

While I feel pretty bad for all the wildlife and the evacuated families I'm also getting a bit anxious about racing San Jose->Livermore Sunday and racing in Morgan Hill on Monday if there's that much smoke in the air. Hope they get a handle on this soon for everyone's sake.

I just got back from Morgan Hill and it was pretty thick down there. The wind was blowing all the smoke to the East. Sounds like they're making headway on it.

Unless you're asthmatic I wouldn't really worry about it. It'll probably be pretty irritating though.

[johnny99]

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9368375

Summit fire: Haze may linger over valley through the weekend
SMOKY AIR : HAZE MAY LINGER OVER VALLEY THROUGH THE WEEKEND
By Amber Dance
Mercury News
Article Launched: 05/24/2008 01:34:07 AM PDT

The smoky haze that blanketed the Bay Area on Friday, scenting the South Bay with a campfire aroma and trapping antsy schoolchildren indoors, is likely to continue throughout the holiday weekend.

Winds from the southwest are carrying fine, lung-irritating bits of soot far from their origin in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The bad air could jeopardize the traditional Memorial Day barbecues and picnics.

In some regions, the soot content soared to five times normal levels for this time of year.

In Cupertino, the haze made for visibility of only a mile or two.

"You can't even really see the hills, which we're right up against," said Cupertino city spokesman Rick Kitson.

At Los Gatos Coffee Roasting Co., the normally crowded sidewalk seating was empty as customers took their joe to go rather than sit outdoors.

At least 18,000 students stayed at home Friday when Pajaro Valley Unified and Loma Prieta Joint Union school districts canceled classes. Elsewhere, kids spent recess inside.

"The kids were going a little nuts," said Susan Kitson, an instructional assistant at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Cupertino.

In addition to being stinky, the tiny smoke particles can become trapped in the lungs and enter the bloodstream. They exacerbate asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses, and also cause problems in otherwise healthy people. Seniors are particularly sensitive, as are children, whose lungs are still developing.

Smoke inhalation can cause symptoms including a scratchy throat, coughing and irritation of the lungs, eyes or sinuses. Those who develop repeated coughing, chest pain, wheezing, impotence, or nausea should seek medical attention.

"Anybody with lung conditions is going to feel worse," said Dr. Tom Dailey, chief of pulmonary medicine at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Santa Clara.

Patients complained of respiratory problems at Stanford Hospital's emergency department. They reported that their symptoms started when they traveled through smoke-filled areas, said Dr. Stephanie Gardner.

Thursday night, meteorologists thought the prevailing winds would send the soot south. But an unexpected northward wind sent the smoke toward Silicon Valley.

The change caught the Bay Area Air Quality Management District off-guard. The district office, which monitors air pollution, happened to be closed Friday, so school principals and others looking for information and advice Friday morning got few answers.

In Redwood City, the air held choking levels of more than 100 micrograms of particles per cubic meter Friday morning. The usual level there in May is in the teens and 20s.

Smoke pollution is often worse in the mornings because the smoke settles near the ground at night. During the afternoon, stronger winds pick up the soot and mix it with clean air, diluting the pollution.

The soot particles, one-thousandth of a centimeter across, will persist until they meet water.

"If a smoke particle hits a cloud, the cloud eats them up," said Thomas Cahill, head of a climate aerosol group at the University of California-Davis.

Once mixed with water, from a cloud or rain, the particles are heavier and drop to the ground.

There is a slight chance of rain today, which could alleviate some pollution. But with winds continuing out of the southwest, the smoky air may continue until the fire is extinguished.

Contact Amber Dance at adance@mercurynews.com or call (408) 920-5064.

[Dchiefransom]

My mail route is near the Winchester/Newhall intersection, and on Friday and Saturday I had to drink some water every 15 minutes or so to keep from coughing.

[scbbbc]

nothing up by santa rosa smell smokie

[jeffremer]

I just got back from Morgan Hill and it was pretty thick down there. The wind was blowing all the smoke to the East. Sounds like they're making headway on it.

Unless you're asthmatic I wouldn't really worry about it. It'll probably be pretty irritating though.

Since the winds shifted it ended up being totally clear in San Jose and Morgan Hill on Sunday and Monday. We got pretty lucky, and I guess since they were starting to get a handle on the fire so did the residents and wildlife.