Last Updated on September 9, 2020
Multiple residents of San Francisco have posted videos and images of their city plunged into an eerie red twilight due to smoke particles from nearby wildfires that are raging across the state and much of the Pacific Northwest.
Videos show various scenes of the city cloaked in a red filter created by smoke particles in the atmosphere, which scatter blue light, and only allow yellow, orange, and red parts of the spectrum to reach the surface.
NBC Bay Area news anchor Raj Mathai wrote “Simple. Bizarre. ‘Smoke particles scatter blue light & only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface, causing skies to look orange.’ – Air Quality District.”
San Francisco: 10am. Simply. Bizarre. “Smoke particles scatter blue light & only allow yellow-orange-red light to reach the surface, causing skies to look orange.” – Air Quality District (video from @LombardiHimself) @nbcbayarea pic.twitter.com/HZgVFvBLbk
— Raj Mathai (@rajmathai) September 9, 2020
Others posted videos from their homes, streets, and offices.
8:45 am in San Francisco. It is soooooo red/brown out there. My video doesn’t do it justice. It feels like Dooms Day. pic.twitter.com/JIhe0hF2mh
— Natasia Malaihollo (@Lovenatasia) September 9, 2020
San Francisco Bay Bridge in the red hue of the sun trying to creep through multiple layers of smoke from multiple fires. #SmokeyTheBear #SanFrancisco #wildfire #AirQuality #redplanet pic.twitter.com/XMEaK9kMDR
— EKF Productions (@kentkessinger) September 9, 2020
Dear San Francisco,
I'm trying to tell you something. Take a hint.
Best regards,
The Lord God.pic.twitter.com/QlSrKB9eJq
— Lee Stranahan ⏳ (@stranahan) September 9, 2020
It's 12 p.m. in #SanFrancisco and here's what my neighborhood looks like right now. @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/XhBg2b4kpG
— Santiago (@SantiagoMejia) September 9, 2020
Noon, San Francisco. Feels super eerie to be outside. If i were shooting a movie about the end of times/Armageddon/end of the world, I would just come to SF right now and save on special effects. Seems super unreal how dark and red it is outside. pic.twitter.com/GKwgyJkw7p
— Natasia Malaihollo (@Lovenatasia) September 9, 2020
Eli Harik wears a mask while gazing at the Bay Bridge and heavy orange skies due to nearby wildfires hanging over San Francisco on Wednesday, September 9 @sfchronicle pic.twitter.com/B2wahjkeRw
— Jessica Christian (@jachristian) September 9, 2020
It’s 9am in #SanFrancisco and its #red !! Where is the sun?
How about Karl ??#redmorning #earthintomars #fires #californiafires #norcal #norcalfires #RedSF #nature #nosun pic.twitter.com/1HqZZVe3rJ— Flavio Lacayo (@FlavioLacayo) September 9, 2020
Authorities now say one of the fires currently raging in the state was sparked by a “smoke-generating pyrotechnic device” used for an expecting mother’s gender reveal party, according to a press release. San Bernardino police noted “Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be financially and criminally responsible.”
