SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The air quality index shows unhealthy air quality in Santa Barbara County and air quality  continues to worsen. Santa Barbara air monitoring station has recorded “hazardous” levels, the Goleta station has recorded “very unhealthy” levels and the Lompoc station has recorded  “unhealthy” levels.  With the Thomas Fire continuing to burn we anticipate continued concerns about air quality. N95 masks, when fitted properly, offer some limited protection from fine particles in smoke. Dust masks and surgical masks are not effective.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. —The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District today noted that air monitoring stations in Goleta and Santa Barbara recorded levels that were unhealthy for all to breathe yesterday. Smoke and ash from the Thomas Fire burning in Ventura County may continue to affect local air quality for days. Levels of smoke and particles, and areas impacted, including potentially other areas of the county, will vary, and conditions could change quickly. The agencies emphasized that the Air Quality Warning for Santa Barbara County remains in effect until conditions improve.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO), Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), and Santa Barbara County Water Agency announced today that applications for the 2017-2018 Care for Our Earth teacher grants are due on November 3, 2017.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Watch for Santa Barbara County through the weekend. Smoke and ash from wildfires burning throughout the state are affecting local air quality, and may continue over the next several days. Even when wildfires occur outside of our county, air quality can be affected by wildfires miles away.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District issued an Air Quality Watch to be in effect until conditions improve. Vegetation fires burning near Lompoc are producing smoke that may affect portions of Santa Barbara County.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District announced that it will be accepting applications for its Year 19 Carl Moyer Program next week. The program provides grant funding to help reduce emissions from diesel engines and off-road equipment.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District will be holding two workshops later this month to discuss and gather input on strategies for greenhouse gas mitigation in Santa Barbara County. All members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend, and the format of the workshops will allow people to drop in at any point during the scheduled time. 

GOLETA, CA – The latest electric vehicles will be on view September 17 as part of a celebration of National Drive Electric Week put on by the Community Environmental Council (CEC),partnering with the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and Los Padres Chapter Sierra Club. The partners encourage all to attend to check out the latest models and find out about tax credits and rebates for buying electric.

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (District) investigated several different strategies to generate greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and developed that a spreadsheet that presents scenarios for each measure with estimates of potential costs and benefits. The information in the spreadsheet tool is presented for comparison purposes only, and it is expected that the actual costs and benefits of any implemented measure could be different. 

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department and Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District encourage residents to prepare to keep indoor air as clean as possible. The smoky and ashy conditions during wildfires, and the windy conditions after wildfires, pose health risks, especially for children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases.