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Sonoma Burn Smoke, PG&E Shutoffs and Big Sur's Timber Fire — October 11, 2026

Canairy · 3 min read · 2026-10-11

Thick smoke rising from a fire burning across a grass field in the countryside.
Photo: Alexandre P. Junior / Pexels

Today's news is mostly from California, where a controlled burn sent smoke farther than planned and dry, gusty weather has the state's largest utility cutting power in some areas. There is also a useful explainer from Ohio on what an ozone "attainment" label does and doesn't mean.

Sonoma County reviews a prescribed burn that sent smoke inland

An 87-acre prescribed burn at Carrington Coast Ranch Regional Park near Bodega Bay on Tuesday, Oct. 6, sent smoke inland across communities from Sebastopol to Santa Rosa, prompting air quality warnings, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. Unexpected shifts in wind and atmospheric conditions carried more smoke inland than officials expected, creating hazardous air quality in some areas.

Sonoma County Regional Parks said the smoke impact was "far greater than predicted." The burn was meant to reduce wildfire risk, control invasive plants and restore rare coastal prairie. The department is now reviewing its prescribed burning program with fire agencies, scientists and air quality regulators.

PG&E shutoffs limited so far, with more possible

Public Safety Power Shutoffs stayed limited on Saturday, but more could come as high winds and dry conditions continue, according to the Press Democrat. PG&E first said about 12,200 customers in parts of 17 Northern and Central California counties could see shutoffs from Friday through Monday.

Shutoffs were expected again Sunday in counties including Alameda, Fresno, Kern, Napa, Solano, Shasta and Yolo, and a fire weather watch was in place for Reno and parts of the Sierra Nevada. Customers can check their address at pge.com/pspsupdates.

Big Sur state park reopens as the Timber Fire winds down

Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park will reopen next Friday after more than two months closed, The Mercury News reports. The Timber Fire, which began Aug. 8, was 97% contained on Saturday after burning 25,352 acres.

More than 1,000 firefighters used the park as a command post. Crews kept the fire from burning any homes or businesses, though it burned for weeks in steep, roadless backcountry in the Los Padres National Forest.

What Northeast Ohio's ozone status means for daily air

Northeast Ohio now meets the federal ground-level ozone standard, but that label doesn't tell you whether the air is healthy on any given day, cleveland.com explains. The designation is based on three years of measurements, and Cleveland's 2023-25 value came in at 70 parts per billion, right at the standard.

The daily Air Quality Index is the tool for current conditions, and it also covers particles such as wildfire smoke, which the ozone designation does not. Checking the AQI before a long run or outdoor workout is a simple habit.

Sources

Canairy aggregates publicly reported air-quality and wildfire news and summarizes it in plain English, with links to the original sources. This is educational information, not medical or emergency advice. In a wildfire or air-quality emergency, follow guidance from local authorities.