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Smoke from Mariposa County fire continues to fill Tahoe Basin (video)

What to do during wildfire smoke events:

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed; run air-conditioner on “recirculate” setting. Keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside.

Minimize the use of swamp coolers. If it becomes too warm indoors, individuals may consider leaving the area to seek alternative shelter.

Do not add to indoor pollution. When smoke levels are high, do not use anything that burns, such as candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves.

Do not vacuum, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home.

Do not smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.

Follow your doctor’s advice about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen.

If you evacuate, make sure you take all essential medications along with you.

Do not rely on dust masks or N95 respirators for protection. If you wish to wear something, use a wet handkerchief or bandana to cover your mouth and nose. The key – keep it moist.

When driving make sure to drive with the windows rolled up and the air conditioner on “recirculate.”

Minimize or stop outdoor activities, especially exercise, during smoky conditions.

People who must spend time outdoors should drink plenty of fluids.

Additionally, pet owners should consider bringing their pets indoors out of the unhealthy air conditions, if possible. This is especially important for older pets.

Carson City Health and Human Services

UPDATE

Smoke from a fire that has scorched 39 square miles in Mariposa County continues to flood into the Tahoe Basin and greater region.

Lake Tahoe was hidden in a cloud of smoke Wednesday morning. Off the hill in the Carson Valley, very poor visibility was reported. An air quality advisory is in effect for western Nevada until 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Air quality in the region ranged from hazardous to unhealthy to very unhealthy.

The blaze burning since Sunday was making its way to the hills on the edge of Mariposa, a town of about 2,000 people under a mandatory evacuation order. The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.

ORIGINAL POST:

15,500-acre Mariposa County fire pushes smoke into Tahoe Basin (video)

Smoke from a 15,500-acre fire in Mariposa County, California is blowing smoking into the Tahoe Basin, according to the National Weather Service Reno.

The blaze, called the Detwiler Fire, is just five percent contained as of Tuesday morning and is threatening 300 structures as it burns two miles east of Lake McClure. The fire broke out on Sunday around 4 p.m.


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