Smoke blankets the Bay Area; many complain of smell, tasting ash

The Glen Cove Fire burning at the Carquinez Bridge in Vallejo. Oct. 27, 2019

Smoke blanketed the Bay Area again on Monday, as smoke from the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and a smelly marsh fire in Solano County, filtered down to faraway cities.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued yet another Spare the Air Alert for Monday, adding that smoke and ash are beginning to filter down to the surface. 

Spots including Berkeley's Aquatic Park, Laney College in Oakland, San Pablo and Concord all had "unhealthy for sensitive groups" readings, according to data provided by the district. 

District spokeswoman Kristine Roselius said there will be spikes of worse and better air quality throughout the day depending on the wind. As for the smelly smoke, Roselius said that was coming from a marshland fire in the Suisun area in Solano County.

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Why does the smoke smell so bad?

As for the smelly smoke, Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokeswoman Kristine Roselius said that was coming from a marshland fire in the Suisun area in Solano County.

"It's got a lot of organic material, and it smells different than a wildfire," she said. 

On social media, people chimed in from Oakand to Palo Alto saying they smelled and tasted the smoke. 

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Fire closes the Carquinez Bridge

Mandatory evacuations are underway in Crockett, the Carquinez Bridge is closed in both directions