That large smoke plume visible in much of the East Bay this afternoon? It's got nothing to do with any of the refineries in the region.
The smoke is coming from a vegetation fire on Sherman Island, north of Antioch in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The accompanying picture is from KQED Science reporter Lauren Sommer, who was out hiking this afternoon in Briones Regional Park, between Martinez and Lafayette.
The Contra Costa Times has the story, and notes some communities in eastern Contra Costa County are experiencing heavy smoke from the blaze:
A representative of the Rio Vista Fire District said the fire will be allowed to burn and that no structures are threatened.
Large chunks of ash were blowing through the air, along with smoke, according to several
witnesses who contacted this newspaper. The smoke was particularly thick in areas of Antioch, Brentwood and Oakley, according to witnesses.As of 5 p.m. no one had come to Sutter Delta Medical Center or Kaiser Hospital complaining of smoke inhalation, shortness of breath or other possible effects from the blaze, according to emergency room representatives at the Antioch medical facilities.
The California Fire News blog has a little more on the blaze here: Large Fire on Sherman Island .
Sacramento's KCRA says the fire was a prescribed burn: Smoke seen for miles coming from island fire in Delta.