Health Department warns of bad air quality on Big Island
Advertiser Staff
As Hawaii County firefighters continue to battle a brushfire on Kealakekua Ranch land, the state Department of Health is urging residents to take precautions because of elevated smoke particulate levels in the air.
The Department of Health said yesterday that particulate levels over a 24-hour period in Kona exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standard.
The agency is monitoring air quality in Kona, Hilo, Mountain view and Pahala as a combination of brushfire smoke and vog has fouled the air.
Big Island firefighters have dealt with at least three brushfires in the last several weeks.
Big Island Fire Chief Darryl Oliveira told West Hawaii Today that the Kealakekua Ranch fire was contained Wednesday but continues to burn at an elevation of about 4,000 feet, on property owned by Bishop Estate and Kamehameha Schools.
Oliveira said the fire does not pose a threat to property but warned West Hawaii residents that smoky conditions are likely to continue.
The Department of Health offers the following guidelines to people living in areas impacted by smoke or vog:
For information about air quality, call the Clean Air Branch at 586-4200. Or go to the American Lung Association of Hawaii’s Web site at:
www.ala-hawaii.org
