If you took an image of any of the 15 fires that have afflicted California in the last week, it would look like a snapshot from hell.
Here in the Belmont-San Carlos area, the air pollutant PM 2.5 lingers in the air, a cautious reminder of the fires that burn not so far away from where we sit in our classrooms. The fine particle can cause both short-term symptoms, such as eye, throat, and lung irritation, as well as long-term symptoms, including bronchitis and exacerbated respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
According to the Sacramento Bee, wind speeds have reached highs of over 100 mph in Alpine Meadows and Pine Flat Road. Sonoma County is the most deeply affected by both the high winds and wildfires. High winds have prompted electric company PG&E to shut-off power in approximately 30 counties across the Bay Area in an attempt to prevent further wildfires. At one point, over 1.5 million Bay Area residents were left without power.
The rapidly spreading Kincade Fire has spanned dozens of thousands of acres in a matter of days. At the height of its growth, 80,000 homes were at risk. The fire is suspected to have originated from a malfunctionin...
