Smoke from Northern California’s two largest active wildfires will linger through mid‑week.
The 13,366‑acre Green Fire burning north of Shasta Lake in Shasta County and the 8,156‑acre Butler Fire along the Salmon River in Siskiyou County are pumping the bulk of the region’s particulate matter into the air. The Green Fire, sparked by lightning July 1, is 5 percent contained, while the Butler Fire remains uncontained.
A west wind north of the Sacramento valley will steer smoke into northeastern Shasta County, Modoc County and Lassen County.
The Shasta County Air Quality Management District advised residents to limit outdoor activity if they smell smoke or see ash, warning that conditions can change quickly with the wind.
Fire crews on the Green Fire worked Tuesday to corral spot fires on steep slopes above Shasta Lake using helicopters, air tankers and watercraft.
On the Butler Fire, firefighters battled triple‑digit heat and gusts to 25 mph as the blaze crept southeast. . Structure‑protection lines held for a second straight day, incident commanders said.
Air quality is expected to range from “moderate” to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in communities nearest the fires. During the summer smoke, it is recommend to keep windows closed, run air conditioners on recirculate and follow local alerts for the latest advisories.
