Sacramento, CA

Today would have been a gorgeous summer day if it weren’t for the thick smoke that has filled the Sacramento Valley. The hundreds of fires that have been sparked by lightening are very unfortunate, and pose health risks to sensitive groups (those with heart coinditions and breathing problems) as well as small children.

I am sure the subject of the fires is all over the evening news, but since I do not watch local news I still have to get my information somewhere. I have been referring to the www.sparetheair.com website several times a day just to see if our air quality here in the Sacramento area has improved. It seemed to improve this evening, although earlier I dared not venture outside. Every time I went outdoors my eyes would water- not a good sign.

Young children should be kept inside when the air quality is really bad. They are included in the “sensitive groups.” I think many people forget that little children are more sensitive to bad air because they actually breathe in more air than adults do, and their lungs are still developing. I have had a number of children knock on my door earlier in the day asking if my child could play outside, and the answer was a kind, but firm, no- with a reminder that the air is just too smoky.

I truly hope that all of the residents that were evacuated from there homes will be allowed to return, and that they will be able to go on with their lives as they used to.

Thank you to the hardworking firefighting crews from all over the state who are working on putting the fires out. Be safe.