Your Questions About the Northern California Wildfires Answered

Click here for complete fire coverage.

Many listeners asked questions on KQED's Forum about the wildfires currently burning in Northern California. We have some answers:

Where do we go for the most updated information about where the active fires are?

KQED has maps here and here. Cal Fire also keeps an updated map here.

To receive real-time alerts and advisories directly from your local police department or other agencies, text your ZIP code to 888777.

How do I protect myself from the wildfire smoke?

The Bay Area air quality is the worst on record. To check on air quality levels in your city go here.

To learn more about what doctors are saying about the toxins and triggers in wildfire go here.

Here are a few precautions to protect your health:

• Minimize outdoor activities.
• Stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
• Do not run fans that draw smoky air inside.
• Run your air-conditioner only if it does not bring smoke in from the outdoors.
• Consider leaving the region until air quality improves.

What schools are closed, and where can I find shelters?

Fires in Napa and Sonoma counties are forcing evacuations and school closures. Find more information here.

Why aren’t cellphone towers restored?

Cell towers need power and fiber cables to work. Often they won’t work in areas without power, where the utility poles have fallen or where the fiber lines have melted. Some areas are not yet safe to send workers in to make repairs.

“This is a multilayered process,” the Comcast blog post says. “PG&E is responsible for installing new power poles and repairing the infrastructure needed to supply power to the community. Once that’s in place, we can then attach services to the home.”

As of Tuesday, AT&T has deployed mobile cell sites to Santa Rosa, Willits and the Napa Town & County Fairgrounds. Comcast has expanded Wi-Fi hotspots to the public for free.

Emergency communication experts say there are a couple of things that fire victims can do to relay messages in these situations:

• Send text messages. They require less demand from cell towers.
• Change your cellphone setting to allow voice calls over Wi-Fi.
• Try using social media apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp to make Wi-Fi calls.
• Update your social media profiles with your safety status, and tell friends and family when you’ll be checking in again.
• Change your voicemail greetings when you get cell or Wi-Fi service, and use that to update friends and family on your safety status. So when calls don’t come through, people can hear the information.

How do I prepare for a disaster?

Disaster emergency bag checklist:

• Medication
• Extra set of keys
• Eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Change of clothes
• Winter and snack bars
• Cash in small bills
• First-aid kit
• Flashlight
• Portable radio
• Changing cables for cellphone
• Portable battery pack
• Copy of your ID

Exposed to wildfire smoke? Here's what to do:

• Wear a respirator mask labeled N95 or N100 (dust masks are not helpful).
• Keep your house and car windows closed.
• Wash your nose out, and gargle with clean water 5 times a day until the smoke clears.
• Take a shower, and wash your clothes after being outside.

To learn more listen here.

How can I help?

There are many ways to help, from volunteering to disaster relief funds to donations. Learn how to help here.