Smoke from the Gifford fire is spreading across the Central Coast and beginning to affect air quality. The air quality is expected to get worse over the next few days.

Air quality specialist Megan Field works for the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. She said wind patterns are the reason there is a delayed impact even though the fire has been burning for days.

“We've been really sheltered here in San Luis Obispo County from those poor air quality conditions,” Field said. “The smoke has really stayed high aloft, meaning it's not down to ground level where we are. We've been pretty sheltered from some of those smoke impacts here.”

When air quality worsens, children, elderly and people with preexisting lung conditions should be the first to take precautions. Crystal Be

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