Ventura County Air Pollution Control District

Check out the Ventura Botanical Gardens’ new electric Chevy Silverado, which we spotted at the Earth Day Festival! A $25,000 grant from our Clean Air Fund helped pay for it.

This was the nonprofit’s final step in transitioning to the use of only electric vehicles and landscaping equipment. Way to help decrease air pollution in Ventura County!

For more information on our Clean Air Fund grants, visit https://www.vcapcd.org/clean-air-fund/.

The agenda for the Ventura County Air Pollution Control Board meeting on Tuesday, June 9, includes the following:

FURNACE RULE: A public hearing will be held on a proposal to require new and replacement natural gas furnaces for residences and small businesses meet a lower emission limit for oxides of nitrogen.

REBATE PROGRAM: The board will vote on launching a program to help offset the cost of replacing older, higher-emitting furnaces with cleaner technologies.

BUDGET HEARING: A presentation and public hearing on the district’s proposed 2026-2027 budget will be held.

The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Ventura County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room at 800 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura and livestreamed. To review the full agenda and related documents, watch the livestream and find out how to provide public comments, visit https://www.vcapcd.org/board-meetings/.

PRESCRIBED BURN | Our Monitoring Division approved plans for a small controlled burn taking place today, June 4, just south of Highway 126 in Fillmore.

The training activity for the Fillmore and Ventura County fire departments is in the area bordered by E, D and River streets as shown on the map. The burning will likely finish before the allowed window closes at 4 p.m.

People in the area may see or smell smoke. Check the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov/ for air quality conditions related to smoke.

VCAPCD must approve a smoke management plan for prescribed burns. The plans provide standards and conditions to manage smoke generation and minimize emissions of particulates and other contaminants. The district’s Monitoring Division staff then makes sure that weather conditions that minimize smoke impacts are forecast before burns take place.

PRESCRIBED BURN | Our Monitoring Division approved plans for a controlled burn taking place today, June 3, at the Ventura River Steelhead Preserve. People in Casitas Springs, Foster Park, Meiners Oaks and Ojai may see or smell smoke.

The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association and Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) plan to burn about 35 acres of Ojai Valley Land Conservancy property near the intersection of Santa Ana and Hollingsworth Ranch roads as shown on the map. The burn may continue through 4 p.m. as long as weather conditions remain favorable and smoke impacts are minimal.

Air quality information from PurpleAir sensors in Oak View, Foster Park and along Ventura Avenue and our permanent regulatory-grade monitoring station at VCFD Station #21 is available on the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at https://fire.airnow.gov/.

The goals are to reduce yellow star thistle and other invasive plants, restore native grasslands, reduce the risk of wildfire, provide firefighter training and gather data on the use of prescribed burns.

VCAPCD must approve a smoke management plan for prescribed burns. The plans provide standards and conditions to manage smoke generation and minimize emissions of particulates and other contaminants. The district’s Monitoring Division staff then makes sure that weather conditions that minimize smoke impacts are forecast before burns take place.

PRESCRIBED BURN | Our Monitoring Division approved plans for a controlled burn taking place today and tomorrow, June 1 and 2, on Besant Hill School/Happy Valley Foundation property in Upper Ojai.

The Ventura County Prescribed Burn Association (VCPBA) plans to burn about 69 acres north of Old Highway 150 between Happy Valley School and Tank roads as shown on the map. The burn will take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. as long as weather conditions remain favorable and smoke impacts are minimal.

Besant Hill School is not in session. People nearby may see or smell smoke during the burn. VCAPCD staff members set up a temporary air quality monitor nearby at Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD) Station #20. The district also has a permanent monitor at VCFD Station #21. Visit https://fire.airnow.gov/ to check air quality conditions.

VCPBA organized the the burn to remove yellow star thistle and other invasive plants, restore native grasslands, reduce hazardous wildland fuels, provide firefighter training and conduct research.

VCAPCD must approve a smoke management plan for prescribed burns. The plans provide standards and conditions to manage smoke generation and minimize emissions of particulates and other contaminants. The district’s Monitoring Division staff then makes sure that weather conditions that minimize smoke impacts are forecast before burns take place.

UPDATE: WATCH WILL END AT 12:01 A.M. FRIDAY, MAY 22

(VENTURA, Calif. — May 20, 2026) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is issuing an Air Quality Watch because of the potential for unhealthy air quality conditions due to both the Sandy and Santa Rosa Island fires.

Impacted cities may now include Ventura in addition to Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard. The air quality of surrounding areas may also be impacted depending on how weather conditions affect the transport of smoke.

Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles — particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less — that can harm the lungs and heart.

For information on protective measures, visit our Wildfire Smoke webpage at https://www.vcapcd.org/wildfire-smoke/.

(VENTURA, Calif. — May 19, 2026) The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is issuing an Air Quality Watch because of the potential for unhealthy air quality conditions due to the Sandy Fire.

Impacted cities may include Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Simi Valley, Moorpark, Camarillo and Oxnard. The air quality of surrounding areas may also be impacted depending on how weather conditions affect the transport of smoke.

Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles — particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less — that can harm the lungs and heart.

When you see or smell smoke or when air quality reaches an unhealthy level as measured by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Index (AQI), the district recommends that everyone:

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. If you must work outside, wear a properly fitted N-95 mask.
• Operate home and car air conditioners in recycle or recirculation mode. Close the fresh air intake.
• Stay indoors as much as possible, preferably in a clean room with an indoor air filtration device where you can avoid cooking or burning candles.
• Close all windows and doors that lead outside.
• Drink plenty of fluids.

A lower range of AQI can affect sensitive groups. This includes children, older adults and people with diabetes or heart or lung conditions.

The district issues Air Quality Watches when wildfires have the potential to produce significant amounts of smoke for a long time. Air Quality Alerts are issued when the AQI has reached or is forecast to reach an unhealthy level for all.

An AQI forecast reflects what is possible for a 24-hour day on average. At times, air quality is likely to be better or worse than what is indicated for the entire period. Levels of smoke and particles and the areas affected will vary over time. Conditions can change rapidly depending on winds.

For real-time data on air quality, check the AirNow NowCast AQI at https://www.airnow.gov/ or https://fire.airnow.gov/ AirNow uses hourly data from the district’s five monitoring stations throughout the county to provide air quality information for the surrounding regions.

Ventura County farmworkers can receive text and audio alerts when wildfire smoke increases the AQI to unhealthy and hazardous levels. To sign up, text “SMOKE” for English or “HUMO” for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.

People can get Daily Air Quality Reports from the district by signing up to receive emails at https://www.vcapcd.org/ or by following the district on the social platform X.

For more information on precautions, visit our Wildfire Smoke webpage at https://www.vcapcd.org/wildfire-smoke/

We have issued an Air Quality Watch because of the potential for unhealthy conditions due to the Sandy Fire. Impacted cities may include Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Simi Valley. The air quality of surrounding areas may also be impacted depending on how weather conditions affect the transport of smoke. For more information, visit https://www.vcapcd.org/.

🌿Clean air supports more than people—it sustains entire ecosystems. The first chair of the California Air Resources Board, Arie Haagen-Smit, showed smog from vehicle exhaust harms plants, wildlife & ecosystems — not just air.

This , protect the air we share ➡️ww2.arb.ca.gov/resources/fact-sheets/ozone-effects

Indoor air quality impacts everyone, especially children, the elderly and people with health conditions like asthma and heart disease. Learn more at https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq
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