The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District issued an air quality alert this week, as smoke from the Bear Fire near Boulder Creek infiltrated San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley.
According to air quality data measured Wednesday at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups. Those groups include people with heart and lung disease, older adults and children.
Monitoring stations in Boulder Creek and Felton were not reporting data on Wednesday.
The Environmental Protection Agency, which also reported potentially unhealthy levels of particles in the air, advised that people also not exert themselves physically outdoors for long periods of time.
The air quality was forecast to continue to be unhealthy for sensitive groups through Friday.
People can check the air quality levels on the Monterey Bay Unified Pollution Control District website, http://air.mbuapcd.org.