The combination of extreme heat and the smoke from the nearby Mosquito Fire burning in Placer and El Dorado counties makes it dangerous to be outside. Air quality was bad in the Foothills on Thursday morning.The city of Folsom didn’t want to take any chances and closed its outdoor facilities.”We’ve got the heat and the smoke and it’s about as uncomfortable as you can get,” Folsom fire Chief Ken Cusano said.Cusano and other city leaders met Thursday morning and decided to close the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, the Steve Miklos Aquatic Center, Cummings Family Skate and Bike Park, and the Folsom Valley Railway steam-powered train at City Lions Park.”When I checked the smoke indicators, the weather systems in the city were popping up in the hazardous range, the top of the scale,” Cusano said.The public library stayed open and it was designated as a cooling and clean air center, one of the most popular places in Folsom Thursday.Ken Anderson stopped by to drop off some books.”I read books, watch TV and play games, listen to records, all the fun indoor stuff,” he said.Living in Folsom for two decades, Anderson said he invested in his health by getting fresh air in his home.”On our HVAC system, we put on one of the things that zap the particles,” Anderson said. “It kills pollution and knocks the smoke out of the house.”Kent Pinkerton with UC Davis said residents need to check the air quality index. He said if the number is over 151, it’s dangerous for everyone outside, not just people sensitive to smoke.”If anything is above that number, that is going to be a hazardous condition for anyone breathing that kind of air outside,” Pinkerton said said. Pinkerton also said the 100-150 range is problematic for young children and people who have respiratory, heart or cardiovascular issues.He said people could experience inflammation of the lungs, wheezing and coughing.Pinkerton encourages people to wear N95 masks when outside since it catches 98% of the dangerous particles from the smoke.
The combination of extreme heat and the smoke from the nearby Mosquito Fire burning in Placer and El Dorado counties makes it dangerous to be outside. Air quality was bad in the Foothills on Thursday morning.
The city of Folsom didn’t want to take any chances and closed its outdoor facilities.
“We’ve got the heat and the smoke and it’s about as uncomfortable as you can get,” Folsom fire Chief Ken Cusano said.
Cusano and other city leaders met Thursday morning and decided to close the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary, the Steve Miklos Aquatic Center, Cummings Family Skate and Bike Park, and the Folsom Valley Railway steam-powered train at City Lions Park.
“When I checked the smoke indicators, the weather systems in the city were popping up in the hazardous range, the top of the scale,” Cusano said.
The public library stayed open and it was designated as a cooling and clean air center, one of the most popular places in Folsom Thursday.
Ken Anderson stopped by to drop off some books.
“I read books, watch TV and play games, listen to records, all the fun indoor stuff,” he said.
Living in Folsom for two decades, Anderson said he invested in his health by getting fresh air in his home.
“On our HVAC system, we put on one of the things that zap the particles,” Anderson said. “It kills pollution and knocks the smoke out of the house.”
Kent Pinkerton with UC Davis said residents need to check the air quality index. He said if the number is over 151, it’s dangerous for everyone outside, not just people sensitive to smoke.
“If anything is above that number, that is going to be a hazardous condition for anyone breathing that kind of air outside,” Pinkerton said said.
Pinkerton also said the 100-150 range is problematic for young children and people who have respiratory, heart or cardiovascular issues.
He said people could experience inflammation of the lungs, wheezing and coughing.
Pinkerton encourages people to wear N95 masks when outside since it catches 98% of the dangerous particles from the smoke.
