Residents of Pittsburg are urged to stay inside with windows and doors closed and limit outdoor activity due to poor air quality in the area.
Air quality in central Pittsburg has been measured by Contra Costa Health’s Hazardous Materials program at unhealthy and at times hazardous levels this afternoon, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality index, due to a fire burning in the area. Conditions may change and other areas may be affected. CCH will continue air sampling near the fire as conditions warrant.
People in affected areas should avoid contact with smoke and minimize any time spent outdoors, especially older adults, pregnant women, and people who have asthma, lung or heart disease. People in the area should avoid going in and out of their homes in order to prevent bad air from getting indoors. For those without power, consider going to a location with a powered ventilation system.
Using a mask is not an effective substitute for staying indoors in a space with filtered air.
Common symptoms of smoke exposure include coughing, scratchy throat, headaches and irritated eyes, nose and throat. Contact your healthcare provider if you are concerned about these symptoms.
People with asthma should continue to follow their asthma plan, and those with chronic lung or heart disease should continue to take their medications regularly. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain or chest tightness may require immediate medical attention. Call 911 if you experience these symptoms.
Contra Costa Health will post updated information about air quality conditions related to this incident at CCHS. More health information about wildfire smoke is available at our Climate and Health page.
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