Tracy warehouse fire impacts local air quality, conditions could last for days
A warehouse fire in the city of Tracy that broke out early Thursday afternoon has turned into the one of the largest in the U.S., and could burn for days. The resulting smoke will impact the air quality of the San Joaquin Valley.
The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued a press release saying smoke will head south on the west end of the San Joaquin Valley on Friday before moving east again into the northern and central parts of the Valley. Affected regions include some or all of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.
A Tribune Content Agency article says the fire spread rapidly through the roughly 1 million-square-foot Medline medical supply warehouse after firefighters encountered problems with the building’s private fire water system.
The air district warned that smoke from the fire may produce higher amounts of elevated fine particulate matter in communities.
These fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, is considered an air pollutant and could severely impact those with respiratory conditions and cause asthma attacks, worsen chronic bronchitis, and increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Those in affected areas are encouraged to stay indoors, keep windows shut and doors closed, and use air filtration where possible. Wearing an N95 mask for those who must be outside is another suggested precaution. Children, older adults and anyone with heart or lung conditions should take extra care to avoid inhaling the fine particulate matter.
To stay on top of changing air quality conditions, download the free Valley Air app on your mobile phone or on the airnow.gov website.
