Bay Area residents already beleaguered by the coronavirus pandemic are now facing wildfires around them and heavy smoke. The smoke from the fires has caused air quality alerts for the past week and are bound to continue until the fires are controlled and smoke has dissipated.
"Our hearts go out to our brave firefighters and the victims of the fires around the Bay Area and across the state," said Mary Kay Groth, president of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors. "The smoke from the fires is also endangering the health of residents."
Groth called on residents to take steps to protect themselves from the wildfire smoke. "Please heed the air quality alerts issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Breathing the unhealthy air can be dangerous for children whose lungs are still developing, and those who have heart or lung diseases or asthma and other high health risks. Consult your healthcare provider right away if you are having breathing problems."
The Silicon Valley Association of Realtors shares the following tips from various agencies, including the Center for Disease Control and Protection and the Environmental Protection Agency, to protect consumers and their home from wildfire smoke.
Pay attention to air quality alerts. Stay informed by visiting www.sparetheair.org. You also can sign up for Spare the Air Text Alerts on the website.
Stay indoors with windows and doors closed. Now is not the time to do outdoor activities, like mowing, trimming bushes, or running and other strenuous activities.
Protect yourself from smoke. If you need to be outside, use a N95 mask or greater that fits snugly on your face. N95 masks are precious PPE (personal protective equipment) for frontliners treating coronavirus patients, so to conserve their use, please heed advice to stay indoors.
Run the air conditioner. Keep your air conditioner's fresh air intake closed and make sure your air filter is clean. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter elsewhere.
Do not add to indoor or outdoor air pollution. Do not burn candles or use gas, propane, or aerosol sprays. Do not fry or broil meat, smoke tobacco products, or vacuum. It is illegal to use fireplaces, woodstoves, outdoor fire pits or any other wood-burning devices during a Spare the Air Alert.
Reduce smoke in your vehicle. When on the road,close your car windows and vents. Run the air conditioner in recirculate mode.
Conserve on energy. To prevent service interruptions, reduce your energy usage, including use of major appliances during peak hours of 3-10 p.m. Keep air conditioning at 78 F degrees and turn off all unnecessary lights.
Groth advises residents to visit the Santa Clara County Fire Department website at www.sccfd.org/rsg and learn about wildfire safety measures. "The website also includes important Red Flag Warning reminders. You can never be sure about the future. We all should take preventive measures to protect our family and home from a wildfire."
Among those impacted by the wildfires are hundreds of Realtors and their families, added Groth. "The California Association of Realtors has been helping the Realtor family recover from natural disasters for more than 15 years. The C.A.R. Disaster Relief Fund was established in the wake of the devastating 2003 California wildfires, thanks to generous contributions from C.A.R. and other state and local Realtor associations and contributors. The Disaster Relief Fund provides grants for Realtors, employees of Realtors and association staff who have incurred loss and/or financial hardship."
To apply for a grant from the C.A.R. Disaster Relief Fund, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visithttps://www.car.org/difference/realtorscare.
The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.
The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.
For further information, please email or call the SILVAR office at (408) 200-0100.