Smoke in Lake Tahoe Basin coming from Northern California fires

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Friday morning started off clear and sunny, but by mid-morning smoke from from several California fires filled the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The smoke Friday has been a combination of the Carr Fire, the Mendocino Complex fires (Ranch Fire and River Fire) and the two western El Dorado County fires according to the USFS office in South Lake Tahoe. The Whaleback Fire and Ferguson Fire are also burning north and south of the lake.

Smoke will be getting worse as the day goes on according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Expect more of the same this weekend.

Air quality in South Lake Tahoe is slightly affected, and as of 3:45 p.m. the Air Quality Index is 64 where unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion. Carson City has an AQI of 109 and Reno is at 82. Bishop, directly in the path of smoke from four fires burning South of Lake Tahoe, has an AQI today of 177.

For a video of the smoke direction: https://www.facebook.com/EDCAQMD/videos/883463921843548/

AQI ranges:
Good - 0 to 50 - Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate - 51 to 100 - Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups - 101 to 150 - Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Unhealthy - 151 to 200 - Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.