The California wildfire season is well under way, with close to 2.4 million acres scorched in 2021 so far, according to Cal Fire. 

Due to the high number and large size of these fires, none of which are burning in or near Santa Clarita, the air quality in the valley continues to worsen. 

Residents and visitors to Santa Clarita in the past few days and weeks have noticed the hazy weather conditions and a steep decline in the local air quality.

A change in the weather pattern will lead to northerly winds aloft that will bring in smoke from the Central CA wildfires down into SoCal. Those smoky and hazy skies will come into the picture today into Friday, especially for our northern areas. #CAwx #fireWX pic.twitter.com/ms7fvYMre1

— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) September 23, 2021

According to AirNow, the air quality in Santa Clarita is currently at a moderate stage of pollution, with that forecast sustaining through at least Friday. Further north in the Bakersfield area, the pollution is much worse, especially for those with preexisting conditions that make them more sensitive to air quality changes. 

For Santa Clarita, the AirNow daily forecast says “If you are unusually sensitive to particle pollution, consider reducing your activity level or shorten the amount of time you are active outdoors.”

While concerns have risen regarding this deterioration, Santa Clarita residents can rest assured that the fires currently burning in Central California pose no threat to our community. While some residents may  be seeing the consequences of these fires, specifically smoke drift, the City is well out of the immediate danger zone. 

No fires are burning in Santa Clarita at this time. The Route Fire and Emigrant Fire in the Grapevine are the most recent Los Angeles County fires of note, and have most likely contributed to the low air quality along with the larger wildfires up north. 

So far, there are three large wildfires burning in the Sequoia National Forest area. While they go by a few different names, they are widely known as the Windy Fire, Walker Fire, and French Fire. Other names used could be the KNP Complex fire, which was first known as the Dixie Fire before joining with another local blaze. 

Due to the high fire risk in L.A. County and California as a whole, officials recommend taking extreme precaution when burning campfires and to always check your area for burn bans before lighting up. Always clear the area around your campfire and check for overhanging material, and have water or soil nearby to extinguish your fire completely before leaving the area. 

To check the air quality reports for your area, click here.

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