Smoke Keeps Local Students Indoors

As Alameda and the greater San Francisco Bay Area entered a third day of coping with smoke from raging fires in Napa and Sonoma counties, district officials are asking schools to keep students indoors.

Susan Davis, senior manager for community affairs for the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) told Action Alameda News, “AUSD staff are monitoring local air quality continually. We have asked that schools keep students indoors for PE and recess and that they keep a close eye on students and staff who might be particularly sensitive to air quality (e.g., those with asthma). We have also alerted the high school athletic directors to the current conditions. Both Alameda High School and Encinal High School have canceled their outdoor games and practices.”

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an advisory on Monday, warning of unhealthy air quality due to the fires, and advising residents to avoid outdoor activities.

As of late this afternoon, CalFire was tracking six different fires in Napa and Sonoma counties, the largest of which, the Atlas fire, which has burned 42,349 acres, is only 3 percent contained.

CalFire reports even less containment on the other five fires.