SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hundreds of lightning-sparked wildfires have turned the air of northern California into an unhealthy stew of smoke and ash, forcing the cancellation of athletic events and other outdoor activities.
Health advisories urging residents to stay indoors to limit exposure to the smoky air were issued Saturday from Bakersfield north to Redding, a distance of nearly 450 miles.
On Saturday, President Bush issued an emergency declaration for California and ordered federal agencies to assist in firefighting efforts.
Areas hardest hit include Butte County, where 31 fires have burned 19 square miles; Mendocino County, where 121 fires have burned 45 square miles; and Shasta and Trinity counties, where about 160 fires have burned 58 square miles.
The wildfire south of the tourist town of Big Sur was 80 percent contained Saturday.
