Increased air pollutants can irritate eyes, nose and throat and cause scratchy throat, watery eyes, or even minor nosebleeds. Anyone experiencing such irritation should spend more time indoors than outdoors. The most important way to know when to take action is if your neighborhood has smoke or heavy haze, or your irritation is strong. In those situations, you are advised to stay indoors and close all windows and doors. Be sure to also avoid all indoor tobacco smoke.

If you have air conditioning, use the air recycling so as not bring in outdoor smoky air. If you don't have air conditioning and the day is hot, you may need to seek other shelter temporarily until the air clears.

People who have chronic lung or heart disease such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, coronary heart disease, and congestive heart failure, as well as the very old and very young are more sensitive to the pollutants. They especially should reduce their time outdoors and particularly any strenuous activity or exercise. Anyone with trouble breathing, chest tightness, or persistent cough should seek medical attention.

As the tire fire has been controlled, its smoke has diminished significantly. However, the levels of respirable particulate matter (PM10) monitoring in the whole county and region have occasionally been in the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" and even in the "unhealthy" categories of the air quality index. This is due to the combination of PM10 in the air from the many sources in the state and region, such as the forest fires, motor vehicles, agricultural burning, and others. At these levels, it is advisable that sensitive people, as mentioned above, remain mostly indoors and avoid outdoor activities; others should limit outdoor physical exertion activities. You may call the Valley Air District Smog Information Line at 1-800-766-4463 for the latest air quality forecast for our area. You may also check the daily newspaper's weather page for air quality and pollen information.