Smoke from California wildfires crosses state lines into northern Nevada

Smoke from the Park Fire in Northern California is seeping into nearby communities and crossing state lines — worsening air quality as a result.

As of Wednesday morning, the Park Fire had burned nearly 390,000 acres in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties, and was at 18% containment, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Smoke from the wildfire has traveled as far as Nevada, causing authorities to declare an air quality emergency in the Reno-Sparks area.

Where is smoke from the Park Fire?

As of Wednesday morning, winds were pushing smoke into areas from Yuba City to Sacramento and Reno, according to IQ Air’s interactive map.

Can you see wildfire smoke in Sacramento?

Winds are expected to blow smoke from the Park Fire away from Sacramento, according to Bill Rasch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Instead, it’ll seep further into Northern California and Nevada, Rasch told The Sacramento Bee on Wednesday morning.

Smoke from wildfires burning south of Sacramento may appear in the sky above the capital city, he added, but it will likely be hard to see because it’ll be higher in the sky.

The Pedro Fire near Lake Don Pedro had burned nearly 3,000 acres in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties as of midday Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.

“(The smoke) might look like a hidden layer of clouds or something like that,” Rasch said, adding that its presence will be more visible during sunset or sunrise because the sun will appear redder.

How has Park Fire affected air quality in Northern California? Nevada?

The Butte County Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory for Wednesday warning of “moderate to “unhealthy” air quality due to wildfire smoke.

On Tuesday, the Northern Nevada Public Health’s Air Quality Management Division issued a stage 1 emergency episode due to smoke from the Park Fire.

Air quality in the Reno-Sparks area was forecast to range from “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “unhealthy” on Wednesday, the agency said.

“Smoke from the Park Fire is expected to begin impacting the Reno-Sparks area ... into Wednesday morning and persist through Thursday morning,” the division said. “Smoke that travels to the area overnight should settle into the valleys and lead to elevated (air quality index levels).”

How is Sacramento’s air quality?

Air quality in the Sacramento area was forecast to be “moderate” on Wednesday, according to AirNow, an air quality data source.

Those sensitive to ozone should reduce activity levels or spend less time outdoors, the organization advised.

On Thursday, air quality in the capital region is expected to be “unhealthy for sensitive groups” according to the air quality index.

AirNow recommends people with asthma, children and older adults reduce outdoor exposure that day.

From Friday to Sunday, air quality is expected to be moderate in Sacramento, AirNow said.

Air quality may vary throughout the day.

According to AirNow, ozone is typically lower in the morning.

The site advises that people check the current air quality status in their area to decide when to be outdoors.