San Francisco Through the Smoke

Take a deep breath for those of us who cannot. 🔥 This isn’t “just” smoke. It is plastics, metals, building materials, synthetics, chemical compounds, highly toxic particulate matter that penetrate lung tissue, irritate respiratory systems, enter bloodstreams, cause sickness and wreak permanent health damage. I may need to wear a mask, change my air filters and stay indoors, but I have my life, my home, my loved ones — at a time when 79 are dead, 699 still missing, and tens of thousands displaced right here in Northern California — and for that we are profoundly grateful. Plus I can actually SEE the Golden Gate Bridge today, as the air quality index dropped under 200 for the first time since the Camp Fire smoke began engulfing the Bay Area, meaning AQI is “only” unhealthy not hazardous. 🤦🏽‍♀️ The second photo is not mine, but shows the stark contrast in visibility of San Francisco from my hometown due to the raging nearby fires. Thank you to all the firefighters and first responders who continue working bravely to save lives and protect us all.