FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2025

En Español

Contacts:
Lyz Bantilan, APCD Public Information Officer: (805) 979-8283
Ryyn Schumacher, County of Santa Barbara Health Public Information Officer: (805) 680-8819

Air Quality Alert for Cuyama Area
Air Quality Watch Continues Countywide

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and County of Santa Barbara Health Department have upgraded the Air Quality Watch to an Alert for the Cuyama area, which is in closest proximity to the Madre Fire. Smoke and ash from the Madre Fire is affecting air quality. Conditions can change quickly, and an Air Quality Watch remains in effect for the rest of the county.

With the 4^th of July holiday this weekend, we also encourage people to be aware that spikes in air pollution are expected due to the use of personal fireworks, particularly in the Lompoc and Santa Maria areas. Historically, these spikes in air pollution around this holiday tend to occur in the late evening and early morning hours. We encourage people to attend community 4^th of July celebrations instead of using personal fireworks.

All Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to stay alert to local conditions:

• Check the EPA Fire & Smoke map: airnow.gov.
  • This map shows data from APCD’s permanent monitoring stations, as well as from temporary monitors and low-cost sensors. Using multiple data sets, this map allows you to keep tabs on trends in the air quality conditions and see a bigger picture of information.
• Check readings available on APCD’s website: ourair.org/todays-air-quality.
  • Our permanent monitoring stations are sophisticated devices that provide reliable readings from regional monitors located throughout the county.

We also encourage people to pay attention to conditions around them. Levels of smoke and particles, and areas affected, will vary. If you see or smell smoke in the air, be cautious and use common sense to protect your and your family’s health. Everyone, especially people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant women, and children, should limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of smoke and particles are in the air.

When air quality reaches Unhealthy levels (Air Quality Index, or AQI, at 151 or greater), and/or if you see or smell smoke, we recommend that everyone:

• Head indoors and remain indoors, as much as possible – the best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible;
• Avoid outdoor activity;
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside to prevent bringing additional smoke inside;
• Create a “clean air room” to keep indoor air quality safe. Turn on your High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifier if possible. For information on different ways to create a “clean air room,” click here.

• Drink plenty of fluids to keep respiratory membranes moist; and,
• If you are an essential worker and must work outside during wildfire smoke conditions, the use of a properly fitted N-95 mask provides protection.

If you have symptoms that may be related to exposure to smoke and soot, contact your doctor. Symptoms include repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, and nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness.

Ash from the Madre Fire is also present. County residents and landscapers are encouraged to not use leaf blowers if ash is present. Using leaf blowers stirs up ash and dust. Ash and dust are larger particles, but over time, they break down into smaller, more harmful particles that can lodge deep into the lungs and cause serious health effects; using leaf blowers contributes to the larger particles becoming smaller, hazardous particles.

If ash is present in your area, sweep gently with a broom before mopping; HEPA vacuums are also recommended.