Air Quality Watch for Most of Santa Barbara County, Alert for Cuyama Area

The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District and County of Santa Barbara Health Department issued an Air Quality Alert for the Cuyama area and an Air Quality Watch for the rest of Santa Barbara County, to be in effect until conditions improve.

The Gifford Fire burning along Highway 166 between Highway 101 and New Cuyama is producing significant smoke in the Cuyama area. This is a dynamic situation, and local air quality conditions can change quickly. All Santa Barbara County residents are encouraged to stay alert to local conditions by visiting www.ourair.org/todays-air-quality or fire.airnow.gov.

Levels of smoke and particles, and areas affected, will vary. If you see or smell smoke in the air, be cautious and use common sense to protect your and your family’s health. Everyone, especially people with heart or lung conditions, older adults, pregnant women, and children, should limit time spent outdoors and avoid outdoor exercise when high concentrations of smoke and particles are in the air.

When air quality reaches unhealthy levels, and/or if you see or smell smoke, we recommend that everyone:

• Head indoors and remain indoors, as much as possible;
• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity;
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside to prevent bringing additional smoke inside;
• Avoid driving when possible and use “recycle” or re-circulate mode to avoid drawing smoky air into the car;
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep respiratory membranes moist; and,
• If you are an essential worker and must work outside during wildfire smoke conditions, the use of a properly fitted N-95 mask provides protection.

When wildfire smoke is affecting your area, create a “clean air room” to keep indoor air quality safe. The best protection against wildfire smoke is to stay indoors as much as possible when smoke is present. For information on different ways to create a “clean air room,” click here.

For information on safe ash clean-up during and after a fire, go to www.ourair.org/ash-cleanup.

If you have symptoms that may be related to exposure to smoke and soot, contact your doctor. Symptoms include repeated coughing, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness or pain, palpitations, and nausea or unusual fatigue or lightheadedness.

Here's a projection for the smoke from the #GiffordFire 🔥in San Luis Obispo/Santa Barbara Counties through tomorrow night. Smoke will generally move towards the south and east. pic.twitter.com/fzb05X833b

— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) August 4, 2025