Air Pollution From Controlled Burn - KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News

Air Pollution From Controlled Burn

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- People across San Luis Obispo County and even Santa Barbara county are smelling and seeing smoke from a controlled burn at Montana de Oro Park that jumped containment lines and now has spread.  

A lot people have been calling in and posting on our Facebook page worried whether or not it was safe to breath in certain areas. According to the Air Pollution Control District, the level of smoke is unhealthy for sensitive people, especially those with heart or lung disease, including asthma as well as children and older adults.  

With this much smoke traveling, air pollution control districts from Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County advise people to avoid outdoor exercise and to limit time outside. The level of smoke and particles which do contain some pollutants will depend on the change of winds and the containment of the fire.

Cal Fire says although this particular fire was planned to limit the smoke blown into the cities. "People are seeing smoke they are smelling smoke but its certainly a lot less then if we had a wild fire on a northwest day which is typical for this area, typically the winds go right up the canyon and blow the smoke to San Luis Obispo and the 5 cities area, in this case with the prescribed burn we are blowing it off shore," said Phil Veneris.  

A large portion of the smoke is going towards the ocean.  Air quality advisories may be up for a few days, now this fire is changing, Cal Fire now says they're hoping to contain and control the fire by Friday.