Press Releases

Better Breather Alert, Blowing Dust Impacting the Nipomo Area The San Luis Obispo (SLO) County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and County Public Health Department are advising the public of deteriorating air quality in the Oceano Dunes/Nipomo Mesa area due to blowing dust and sand on Friday, October 5, 2018. Blowing sand and dust is forecasted to occur from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the dust forecasted to peak from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Very sensitive individuals such as infants, as well as children and adults with existing respiratory or heart conditions, may experience adverse health effects during blowing dust periods. County officials recommend that the public reschedule outdoor activities to occur when there is no visible dust. If blowing dust and sand is visible in the air, County officials recommend all adults and children avoid strenuous outdoor activity, remain indoors as much as possible, and set any heating/air conditioning/ventilation systems to recirculation. The public is advised to consult their doctor if they are experiencing health problems in an area with blowing dust and sand. If staying indoors does not provide relief, temporarily leaving the area and going to a location where the sand is not blowing and dust is not visible is advised. County officials will continue to closely monitor air pollution levels throughout our region, as forecasts can change. Visit the APCD website at slocleanair.org/airquality/air-forecasting-map.php to see current air quality conditions, forecasts for San Luis Obispo County and to see if you are in the impacted zone for blowing dust. Sign up to receive the daily air quality forecast via email by visiting slocleanair.org/airquality/forecasting.php.

9-28-18: Prescribed Fire Operations Planned at Several Coastal State Parks in San Luis Obispo County

The California Department of Parks and Recreation tentatively plans to conduct prescribed burns in several coastal state parks within San Luis Obispo County (Cot,1nty) between October 2, 2018 and May 31 , 2019. The effort will be carried out in cooperation with CAL FIRE, the Morro Bay Fire Department and the Air Pollution Control District.

Burning may occur in Hearst San Simeon, Montana de Oro, Morro Bay, Estero Bluffs and Harmony Headlands state parks. The work will include grassland and coastal scrub burns, as
well as broadcast and pile burns to address diseased, dead and downed Monterey pines. These burns are part of the prescribed fire program for vegetation management and fuel load
reduction. The Monterey pine forests at Hearst San Simeon and Morro Bay state parks are experiencing major die-offs due to pine pitch canker disease, compounded by years of drought. This treatment will enhance the health of the forests by removing diseased materials, restoring essential nutrients to the soil, and reducing the chance of a catastrophic wildfire.

The prescribed burns will reduce dangerous fuel loads adjacent to housing communities. In grassland and scrub areas, fire will be reintroduced as a component of the ecosystem on a
rotational basis. Please note that these prescribed burns are planned and coordinated with the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District and the California Air Resources Board in order
to minimize the smoke impacts on surrounding communities. All burning is dependent on weather and air quality conditions that are favorable for smoke dispersal. If conditions are not as desired, the burns will be re-scheduled. For burn schedule announcements, you can follow the APCD on Twitter: @SLOCleanAir or on their web site at SLOCleanAir.org

Some public trails near the burn area may be closed the day of the burn. People in Cambria, Harmony, Morro Bay, Cayucos, San Simeon Acres, and Los Osos, or those traveling near the
coast may see smoke from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the burns. In the unlikely event you smell smoke, County officials urge you to take precautions and use common sense to reduce
any harmful health effects by limiting outdoor activities. These precautions are especially important for children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions. Please use
extreme caution while driving near prescribed fire operations due to fire personnel and equipment in the area.

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