Rough fire’s smoke shrouds Merced; some football canceled

A shift in wind patterns sent smoke from wildfires in new directions, causing disappointment Friday for football players at Buhach Colony High School, whose game at Clovis North High School was rescheduled due to poor air quality.

Clovis, Fresno and Madera school districts were forced to cancel all Friday night games, although those in Merced and Atwater continued.

Buhach’s head coach Kevin Navarra said their game would be moved to Saturday night, but was still awaiting confirmation as of press time. Smoke was expected to move out of the Clovis area by the weekend. Players were keeping their fingers crossed.

The hazy and smoky skies over most of the Valley on Friday were a result of the Rough fire burning in Fresno and Tulare counties. Falling ash was reported in several parts of the region.

Scott Rowe, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford, said smoke from the wildfire had been moving into the area for the past few days, but became more noticeable Friday because of a change in wind patterns.

Previously, midlevel winds were blowing smoke from the Rough fire to the east into desert areas, but a high-pressure system created a more stable air pattern, which caused smoke to sit around in the Valley, Rowe said.

Weather officials expect the smoke to clear out of Merced, and most of the Valley, by the weekend as more favorable wind patterns come through the area.

“It’s tough on our kids,” Navarra said about Friday’s change in plans. “They prep all week and the change in schedule created some anxiety. They were nervous all day wondering if they’d play or not.”

Friday’s air quality reached “unhealthy levels for sensitive groups,” according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District’s Real-time Air Advisory Network. But monitors, air officials explained, detect only fine particulates and not larger soot, meaning air can be dirtier than indicated by the network.

On Friday, the Merced City School District implemented a “rainy-day” schedule to limit students’ outdoor exposure.

Leslie Schleth, lead nurse with the district, said students would have indoor recess to protect them from the heat and poor air quality.

“We just felt it was in all students’ best interests to treat today differently,” she said. “It’s unsafe for the children, but also for the adults.”

Conditions such as Friday’s are especially dangerous for children with asthma and allergies, she said. She asked that parents keep children indoors this weekend if possible. It is especially important that children with respiratory problems take prescribed medications and stay hydrated, she said.

Earlier this week, local air officials issued a health cautionary statement for most of the Valley in response to smoke from the Rough fire. That warning was extended through the weekend. On Friday, air officials also warned about smoke from the Butte fire burning in Amador and Calaveras counties.

Smoke from fires, air officials explained, produces fine-particulate matter, which can cause serious health problems including lung disease, asthma attacks and increased risk of heart attacks and stroke.

“Particulate matter lodges deep into the lungs and can reduce lung function,” Anthony Presto, spokesman for the air district, said. “It can also increase risk of heart attacks in sensitive groups.”

People with heart or lung disease are advised to follow their doctors’ advice for dealing with episodes of particulate exposure.

This story was originally published September 11, 2015 at 10:30 AM with the headline "Rough fire’s smoke shrouds Merced; some football canceled."