Residents near Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s home in California have been warned about air quality amid concerns about wildfire smoke in central California from the Gifford Fire, which started on August 1 and has become the largest wildfire in the state so far this year, as reported in CBS News. An air quality advisory has been issued for the Bay Area, amid concerns about wildfire smoke drifting into the region.
As of Tuesday morning, the fire burned 122,065 acres (190.72 square miles). Air quality officials stated wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter and other harmful pollutants and exposure is unhealthy, even for short periods of time. The elderly, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses are particularly vulnerable.
To avoid wildfire smoke, officials have advised people to stay indoors until smoke levels subside. Residents are also advised to check the EPA Fire and Smoke Map for the latest air quality readings.
Lyz Bantilan, public information officer for The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, explained that the district has received numerous reports of ash and smoke.
She told local outlet KSBY: “When the air quality is affected by a wildfire, the best protection that you can give yourself is to stay indoors as much as possible with your windows and your door shut and some sort of air purifier device.”
Smoke and ash can irritate the respiratory system and cause a variety of symptoms and there can be short term health effects such as coughing, wheezing, headaches, and nausea.
For those who cannot avoid being outside, she recommended wearing properly fitted N95 masks to reduce inhalation of harmful particles.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settled in Montecito, California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet shortly after leaving the Royal Family and quitting duties in 2020.
Harry and Meghan’s Montecito luxury abode boasts a total of five acres of land, featuring nine bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, a pool and a tennis court, as well as extensive gardens and its own chicken coop which the couple have named “Archie’s Chick Inn”. It also features a five-car garage, a guesthouse, a spa, a wine cellar, a gym, a library and a tea house, among other luxury amenities.
Earlier this year in January, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex met with the city’s mayor Victor Gordo and emergency workers tackling the Eaton Fire. The couple wanted to meet the first responders and visit some of the families in the impacted area.