A little more on the smoke here

http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_9697483

On Wednesday, an air-quality alert was issued stating that conditions continued to be unhealthy in Butte County and that there were "localized areas of hazardous air-quality conditions."

The alert was issued jointly by two county agencies: the Air Quality Management District and the Department of Public Health.

It said that on Wednesday, the air quality index was expected

to reach 250, which means the air would be very unhealthy for everyone. On Tuesday, the index reached 233.

When the index is between 151 and 200, the air is unhealthy for everyone. Between 201 and 300, it is very unhealthy, and between 301 and 500, it is hazardous.

The alert recommended that people stay indoors with windows and doors closed, that they run air conditioners on the "recirculate" setting, and that they not run swamp coolers. They should consider bringing pets inside the house to protect them from the smoke, the alert said.