What is in smoke? Protecting Our Air When wood and other organic matter burn, they The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution produce smoke, a complex mixture of gases and Control District (District) is a local fine particles. Ash is deposited on the ground, and government agency that works to protect the often stirred up into the air by winds. people and the environment of Santa Barbara County from harmful effects of air pollution. One of the biggest health threats from smoke We are an independent special district, comes from fine particles. These microscopic responsible for controlling air pollution from particles can get into your eyes and respiratory business and industry sources (we do not Congue nihil imperdiet doming id quod mazim system, where they can cause health problems regulate motor vehicles). Our jurisdiction placerat facer minim veni am ut wisi enim ad such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses covers the entire County including the minimeniam, quis erat nostr uexe such as bronchitis. incorporated cities of Buellton, Carpinteria, rci tation ullamcorper nostru exerci tation Goleta, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, ullam corper et iusto odio dig nissim qui Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and Santa Maria, and Solvang. blandit praesent lupta. Tummer delenit lung diseases. augue duis dolore te feugait nulla facilisi. Con Other pollutants in smoke include: cancer-causing Visit www.OurAir.org erattis sectetuer adip iscing elit, sed erat diam substances, including benzene, formaldehyde and View Today’s Air Quality nonummy nibh magna erat. polycyclic organic matter; carbon monoxide, which Find out about funding programs reduces the blood’s ability to supply oxygen to Subscribe to our newsletter, and to tissues; and nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Air Quality Advisories Access permitting and compliance info hydrocarbons, both involved in the formation of Find out what you can do for cleaner air. ozone, a principal component of smog. About Our Air See inside for tips on how to minimize your Phone Numbers exposure to smoke. Main Number .......................................... 961-8800 Smoke and (general information and complaints) Public Information & Media ............. 961-8833 Ash and Your Air Quality Advisories Business Assistance ............................... 961-8868 Health Air Quality Watch: when there is Recorded Information ......................... 961-8802 potential for poor air quality in some portion Clerk of the Board ................................. 961-8853 of the County. Air Quality Warning: when there is already poor air quality in some portion of the County. 260 N San Antonio Rd, Suite A Santa Barbara, CA 93110-1315 www.OurAir.org Subscribe to Air Quality Advisories at: (805) 961-8800 www.OurAir.org www.OurAir.org Top Tips Minimize Your Exposure More Ideas If you smell smoke or see a lot of particles and When air quality improves, air out your Cleaner Fireplace Burning ash in the air, use common sense. home. Be prepared to close windows and doors again if air quality worsens. Limit time spent outside and Go somewhere nearby where the air is avoid outdoor better for a while, even if you can’t leave exercise. your home for a longer period. Close windows Visit www.sbcfire.com to make a plan, and and doors to create “defensible space” around your Here are some tips for cleaner fireplace keep indoor air home. burning: clean unless it is extremely hot. Cleaning up Ash & Soot 1. Use a gas log if you can. If you have heart or lung problems, don’t 2. Be a good neighbor – notice your If you have an air conditioner, run it with cleanup ash or soot. smoke. the fresh air intake closed and the filter Avoid skin contact with the ash. 3. Burn dry, seasoned wood; build small clean. If you have a "whole house fan," hot fires, not large smoldering ones. turn it off when the air quality is poor. Don’t use leaf blowers! 4. Don’t burn trash, plastics, chemicals Call your doctor if you have symptoms of Use damp cloths and spray lightly with or coated papers (i.e. wrapping paper, lung or heart disease that may be related water. Direct ash-filled water to ground magazines or junk mail). to exposure to smoke or particles (i.e. areas and away from the runoff system. repeated coughing, shortness of breath or 5. Regularly clean your chimney with a Use vacuums with HEPA filters or if difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest certified chimney sweep. possible, similar industrials ones with tightness or pain, palpitations, nausea or disposable collection filter bags. Sweeping 6. NEVER use gasoline, charcoal lighter unusual fatigue or lightheadedness). gently with a broom is another option. or other fuel to light or relight a fire Talk to your doctor about whether and because the vapors can explode. Take your car to the car wash. when you should leave the area. When 7. NEVER leave a fire unattended. Never leave a fire unattended. smoke is heavy for a prolonged period of Wash off toys. time, fine particles can build up indoors 8. Don’t hang or decorate your mantel Clean ash off pets. even if you can’t see them. with flammable materials. If ash is falling: (1) avoid skin contact with 9. Have basic fire safety equipment it, (2) avoid stirring it up through cleanup nearby. activities, and (3) avoid exercising 10. Save your fireplace or woodstove for outdoors. special occasions. Instead, use a central heating system, which is the safest, cleanest (for the air) and most efficient way to heat your home. .