An air quality advisory is active in San Francisco as wildfire smoke descends on the region.
The smoke is drifting down the California coast from the Moon Complex fires in southwest Oregon where wildfires have surged in intensity this week, already scorching more than 12,000 acres. Residents across San Francisco – from the Marina and Inner Sunset to Lower Pacific Heights, the Castro, Lower Haight and the Mission – have reported noticing smoky odors, according to posts on social media.
The air quality advisory is in effect for the Bay Area until Sunday, and air district authorities say the smell of smoke is possible in the area. Smoke could stick around Sunday morning, but increasing winds from south to north should blow cleaner air into the Bay Area tomorrow evening.
Wildfire smoke contains harmful pollutants and health authorities urge Bay Area residents, especially older adults, children and those with respiratory illnesses, to stay inside until smoke levels subside.
At The Royale in lower Nob Hill Saturday evening, patrons hadn’t caught any whiffs of smoke. Will Weston, The Royale’s owner, said that, in previous years, wildfire smoke had prompted him to don an N95 mask, but he hadn’t noticed anything unusual Saturday.
The Moon Complex fire, which was first sparked by lightning on Sept. 3 near the Rogue River, grew rapidly Friday, prompting new evacuation orders for areas south and southwest of the fires.
Rain is forecast in Oregon this week, which should help firefighters contain the blazes.
Chronicle meteorologist Anthony Edwards contributed to this report.
