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Valley Residents can be Wildfire Ready by Planning Ahead Now
 Summer’s sizzling temperatures have arrived in the Valley, bringing increased wildfire danger and the potential for unhealthy air quality. Whether they begin with a lightning storm in the mountains or from a dragging trailer chain that sparks dry roadside vegetation, wildfires can pose significant health risks, with wildfire smoke triggering a number of health impacts.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles made up of a number of components like metals, dust and soot that can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, worsen asthma and other respiratory conditions, and make it difficult to breathe. If residents can smell smoke and see ash, those are signs that air quality may be unhealthy and residents should take steps to protect their health.
To help residents stay informed and protected during wildfire events, the District offers tools and resources for monitoring air quality, tracking wildfire activity, creating clean indoor spaces, and reducing smoke exposure.
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Valleyair.org/wildfires: District’s wildfire webpage with a host of resources, including a list of wildfires currently impacting the Valley and links to wildfire handouts
- EPA’s Fire and Smoke Map: Live map showing wildfires occurring in the United States and Canada and current air quality readings
- EPA’s AirNow.gov or AirNow app: Access current local, state and national air quality levels from monitoring data from a variety of sources, including local air quality agencies like the District
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myRAAN.com or Valley Air app: Access current air quality levels from the District’s Real-time Air Quality Advisory Network (RAAN)
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Clean Air Centers: A network of publicly accessible facilities in the Valley equipped with high-efficiency air filtration systems for residents to access clean air during wildfire events
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Protect Yourself from Poor Air Quality: Information and resources on what residents can do during unique air quality episodes
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Clean Air Room Infographic (English or Spanish): Easy-to-understand visual showing how residents can create a room or space in their homes where everyone in the household can breathe clean air
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DIY Air Purifier Instruction Graphic: Instruction and tools needed to assemble a Do-It-Yourself air purifier
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DIY Air Purifier Video (English or Spanish): Step-by-step videos showing how to assemble a Do-It-Yourself air purifier at home
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Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke Infographic (English or Spanish): Graphic explaining what steps residents can take to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke
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Impacts of Wildfire Smoke (English, Spanish, Hmong, or Punjabi) Infographic: Graphic explaining the potential health impacts of wildfire smoke
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Major Electric Truck Project Brings Cleaner Freight Transportation to the Valley
Heavy-duty trucks move the goods that keep our economy running, but they also remain one of the largest sources of air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley. As the region works toward cleaner air, the District continues to support innovative projects that demonstrate how zero-emission freight technologies can deliver real-world benefits for Valley communities.
One of the most recent examples is the South Central Fresno Pepsi Delivery Truck Electrification Project, which has brought 50 battery-electric Tesla Semi Class 8 trucks to Valley roads.
The project began in 2022 when the District was awarded $13.15 million in competitive funding from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Energy Commission through the Zero-Emission Drayage Truck and Infrastructure Pilot Project. PepsiCo matched that investment with more than $13.15 million in private funding, bringing the total project investment to more than $26 million. The District partnered with Pepsi Bottling Group, LLC and New Bern Transport Corporation, operating subsidiaries of PepsiCo, Inc., along with CALSTART and HandsOn Central California.
The project also included construction of a charging facility featuring eight high-powered DC fast chargers capable of delivering more than 700 kilowatts each using Megawatt Charging System technology. A battery energy storage system was also installed to help ensure reliable operations and support the significant energy demands of the fleet.
To help residents learn more about the project, the District joined PepsiCo, CALSTART and HandsOn Central California in hosting two community open houses at the Malaga Community Center this past April. Community members had the opportunity to learn how electric truck technology is being deployed locally, explore the benefits of zero-emission freight transportation, and discuss both the opportunities and challenges associated with transitioning to cleaner heavy-duty vehicles.
By demonstrating that zero-emission trucks and charging infrastructure can operate successfully at scale, the project is helping pave the way for broader adoption of clean transportation technologies regionally, across the state and nationwide.
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Road and Street Improvement Project Brings Mexican Colony Residents One Step Closer to Better Air Quality
Over the past several years, the District has worked closely with Kern County Public Works on a road-paving and sidewalk improvement project in the Mexican Colony neighborhood, located about two miles south of Shafter. Following months of construction, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to commemorate the achievement on April 22, 2026. Members of the AB 617 Shafter Community Steering Committee joined local residents, partner agencies and elected officials to celebrate the occasion and recognize the strong collaboration that helped bring the project to fruition.
Funded through the AB 617 program, the project widened and paved Mannel Avenue from a half-width roadway to a standard full-width roadway and added nearly one mile of new sidewalks, curbs, and gutters along Burbank Street, Rodriguez Street, Martinez Street, Paseo De Pico Street, and Mannel Avenue. These improvements will help reduce emissions from windblown dust and encourage active transportation by providing safer, more accessible pedestrian pathways.
This project is one of many community-driven initiatives that are helping to bring improved air quality and lasting benefits to Shafter through more than $38 million in local clean air investments.
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District Voucher Program Helps Landscape Professionals Upgrade To Cleaner Electric Devices
Landscapers looking to replace gas-powered equipment with cleaner, quieter electric alternatives can take advantage of the District’s Zero-Emission Landscaping Equipment (ZELE) Voucher Program.
The program is available to landscape maintenance professionals, school districts, cities, counties, special districts, and other businesses and public entities throughout the Valley. Eligible small businesses and public agencies may qualify for incentives covering up to 100% of equipment costs, while larger businesses may receive up to 85% off the cost of new equipment.
Participants can receive vouchers of up to $15,000 per piece of equipment for a variety of zero-emission landscaping tools, including ride-on and walk-behind mowers, edgers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and more. To qualify for the vouchers, applicants must permanently remove existing gas-powered landscape equipment by taking them to a participating dismantling facility.
Enhanced funding levels are available for public schools located within the selected AB 617 communities of Shafter, South Central Fresno, Stockton and Arvin/Lamont. Eligible public schools can receive funding covering 100% of the purchase price of up to two batteries and one charger for each new all-electric landscaping equipment purchase.
Gas-powered landscaping equipment is a significant source of localized air pollution in Valley communities. Unlike newer passenger vehicles, these small engines often lack advanced emission controls and can emit disproportionately high levels of pollutants.
To learn more about the ZELE Voucher Program or to apply, visit valleyair.org/ZELE or call (559) 230-5800.
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Request the 2025 Annual Report Today!
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Hard copies of the 2025 Annual Report to the Community are now available in English and Spanish. The report provides Valley residents with a concise and easy-to-follow recap of the District’s goals, objectives, operations, and actions during the previous year. To request a copy, email public.education@valleyair.org with your name and mailing address. |
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Visit the News Room for additional Valley Air District news releases. |
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