Heavy, wind-blown smoke from the raging Northern California wildfires was so thick over the Bay Area this weekend that San Francisco’s 911 dispatch was inundated with phone calls from complaining residents living several miles away, prompting authorities to ask the public, via social media, not to call the police unless they see a fire.
According to Bay Area ABC News KGO, the Contra Costa Fire Protection District’s Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said Moraga, Orinda and several other fire departments were also informed about what the CCFD was doing and suggested they attempt to “engage people in the same way.” On Sunday, they issued a second statement on Twitter to this effect:
KGO notes that warnings were also issued for people with asthma and respiratory conditions to stay indoors.
Meanwhile, residents continued to react on social media:
Seventeen active wildfires continued burning throughout California as of Saturday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Last weekend, firefighters were finally able to bring the raging Rocky Fire under control. It is the Golden State’s largest wildfire of the year having reportedly burned over 70,000 acres before being contained.
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