California Air Resources Board

California wildfires have increased in severity and intensity, particularly in the past few years. These fires also produce heavy smoke that has impacted nearly all of the state and blanketed communities for days or even weeks at a time, creating significant exposures to particulate matter and air toxics for the people in these communities.

The Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program, which was established by Assembly Bill 836 (Wicks, Chapter 393, Statutes of 2019), provides funding of $5,000,000 in total through a grant program to upgrade ventilation systems and to provide portable air cleaners to create a network of clean air centers. The clean air centers will provide vulnerable populations a respite from wildfires and other smoke events.