Air pollution comes from all sorts of different sources, many of which are quite commonplace and come from numerous industrial sites and combustion processes. These include a number of power plants and factories, amongst others.
Smoke from fires across California is causing unhealthy air quality in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley, including Stockton. Smoke is expected to linger in the area for some time, as weather conditions shift.
A wildfire in Placer County is causing smoke to spread west to a wide swath of Northern California, including Stockton. The smoke is caused by the Mosquito Fire, which has burned about 6,870 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Firefighters battle several active wildfires across the state, affecting communities from Tuolumne to Mariposa counties and the city of Stockton. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is advising people in the area to stay indoors and keep windows closed, saying that inhaling smoke can trigger asthma attacks, aggravate chronic bronchitis and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Fires in the region are a result of an unprecedented year of extreme heat and dry fuels. Fire management strategies have to be put in place for this reason, explained George Zimmermann, professor emeritus of Environmental Studies at Stockton University. Students in the school's forestry program get hands-on experience with forest management, including prescribed fires and patch cutting and thinning.
