A change in weather with reduced winds and increased humidity is helping firefighters fight more than 100 mountain fires on the U.S. West Coast. On Saturday, the fires there were still largely under control. President Trump announced he would visit California on Monday to see the damage for himself.
After a hot and windy day, winds decreased and shifted Saturday, and cooler temperatures and higher humidity from the horizon helped firefighters fight the fires in California, Oregon and Washington. In those states, several towns were completely burned and at least 28 people died in the fires.
The smoke in the air led to lower temperatures and increased humidity, and also brought air pollution to its highest level in 35 years in some cities, leading health authorities to issue warnings and officials to urge residents to stay indoors as much as possible.
The air quality index in Salem, Oregon’s capital, was 512 Saturday morning. air pollution index readings are up to 500. anything over 200 is considered “very unhealthy. Above 300 is considered “dangerous.
The city of Paradise, California, was destroyed by a mountain fire in 2018. PrupleAir, a website that monitors quality control, reports that the air pollution index there is now 592.
Smoke and haze have blanketed much of the state. The health department there has issued warnings to people, while officials have urged residents to stay behind closed doors.
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