Wildfires fueled by strong winds are affecting tourism destinations in California right now and hundreds of thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes which are under threat from the blaze.
The wildfire and fire-preventing power shutoffs in Northern California’s Sonoma County have led to evacuations, road closures, traffic delays and air quality issues across the surrounding region.
A wildfire driven by Santa Ana winds has prompted evacuations and road closures in western Los Angeles County in Southern California.
What does this mean for my clients in the state?
Image: Paul Hanaoka/Unsplash
Visit California has confirmed that despite some pockets of the sate being seriously affected by the fires, “the vast majority of the Golden State is currently unaffected by the fires”.
Due to extremely dry and windy weather conditions, CalFire has issued a Red Flag Warning for the next several days while fire danger remains high. For the latest information on wildfires in the state, you can visit the CalFire website.
Air-quality information, as well as live cams across the state, can be found at WestCoastTravelFacts.org.
Anyone sensitive to air quality impacts should consult real-time resources and refer to the CDC’s tips for protecting themselves from wildfire smoke to determine if smoke levels will affect their experience in the state.
More information on the Sonoma County fire’s impact can be found here. Details on the Los Angeles fire can be found here.
Discover Los Angeles has also established a hotel hotline for those in need of accommodations – 888-831-7176.
Is it safe for my clients to travel to California during wildfire season?
California is a large state and wildfires in one location typically have no impact outside a limited area.
Visit California’s first concern is always the safety and well-being of California residents and visitors, so we recommend that visitors who are planning a trip to Sonoma County and Los Angeles to contact their hotel and local convention and visitors bureau for all pertinent updates.
Air-quality information, as well as live cams across the state, can be found at WestCoastTravelFacts.org.
