The hottest days of the year so far have also meant the first series of “no burn days” in Nevada County, which began Saturday and are expected to stay in place at least through Tuesday. Sam Longmire is the Air Pollution Control Specialist with the Northern Sierra Air Quality Management District. He says smog has been the main concern for all four days…

click to listen to Sam Longmire

But Longmire says Cal Fire has also declared “no burn days” Monday and Tuesday, with the heat drying vegetation more rapidly and creating a heightened fire danger. He says how good or bad the wildfire season also always has a strong influence on air quality. He says he’s also expected less smog from today’s cleaner-burning vehicle exhausts, but hasn’t noticed much improvement over the last couple of years…

click to listen to Sam Longmire

Cal Fire started requiring burn permits around the first of May, which is a fairly typical time of year, according to Longmire, despite the record wet winter. But he says up until recently burning had been permitted most days this month, due to unseasonably cool and wet weather.