News

Air quality still unhealthy in San Francisco as Butte County fire burns

By BY Michael Barba • November 11, 2018 12:00 am
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from The Presidio is mired in smog as smoke from the Camp Fire in Northern California drifts down into the Bay Area on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)
The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from The Presidio is mired in smog as smoke from the Camp Fire in Northern California drifts down into the Bay Area on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Kevin N. Hume/S.F. Examiner)

The air remained unhealthy in San Francisco on Sunday morning as smoke from the deadly Camp Fire in Butte County continued to drift throughout the Bay Area.

The Department of Emergency Management warned people in San Francisco to reduce exposure to the poor quality air by closing doors and windows. Those with heart or lung disease should remain indoors and avoid heavy exertion.

St. Anthony’s in the Tenderloin opened its emergency shelter for homeless individuals to avoid the unhealthy air through Sunday night. The nonprofit is located on Golden Gate Avenue near Jones Street.

The wildfire has killed 23 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes since it started Thursday morning near the town of Paradise. As of Sunday morning, Cal Fire in Butte County said the blaze was 25 percent contained.

San Franciscans donned masks to avoid the poor air quality over the weekend.

On Friday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a Spare the Air Alert as a result of the fire, making it illegal for Bay Area residents or businesses to use fireplaces or any other wood-burning devices through Monday.

This story has been updated to include information about shelter for homeless individuals.

mbarba@sfexaminer.com

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