Wildfire ash falls across South Valley

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- ABC30 Insiders from across the Central Valley sent us pictures of how they're seeing the effects of the Cedar Fire right in their backyards.

Photos came from as far as Hanford and the smoke could be seen with ash on cars in Porterville. One viewer posted a photo of ash-strewn across her car in Dinuba.

"It's bad out there," said Jaime Holt with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

The SJVAPCD says when a fire breaks out it overpowers all of the systems put in place to try and control the air quality, automatically sending levels into an unhealthy and dangerous zone.

Officials say if you can smell smoke and see ash falling from the sky it's time to stay indoors.

"I saw lots of ash on my car today," Brett Mar with the Fresno Unified School District said.

Cars in east Clovis were left with a dusting of ash and Mar says during school hours the air quality remained healthy so kids were still allowed to take their recess outside.

"We told them though that if they smell smoke or see ash they need to get back inside," Mar said.

The air district said it sees more pollution from a bad wildfire than it does during an entire winter season.

"Ash is way too big for our monitors so if you're seeing ash flying out of the sky you're breathing it," Holt said. "And it's having an impact on your respiratory system."