SF museums offer refuge from fire with free admission

SFMOMA and the California Academy of Sciences are both offering free admission this week for relief from the Kincade Fire. SFMOMA and the California Academy of Sciences are both offering free admission this week for relief from the Kincade Fire. Photo: Photo By Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Photo: Photo By Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Image 1 of / 133 Caption Close SF museums offer refuge from fire with free admission 1 / 133 Back to Gallery

While the air quality in San Francisco on Tuesday is not too bad — it's currently in the "moderate" category — it's forecasted to get worse later this week, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. To provide refuge to San Franciscans trying to stay out of the smoky air, as well as for any Kincade Fire evacuees in town, SFMOMA is making its permanent collection free to the public through Friday, Nov. 1.

“We hope that these galleries can offer a place for reflection as we all find ways to cope with the impact of the fire and smoke. No ticket will be required to enter these galleries; simply come as you are,” reads the statement SFMOMA released Monday.

The California Academy of Sciences also announced Monday that it is offering free admission to current mandatory fire evacuees with a valid ID/proof of address this week through Friday. The Asian Art Museum of SF and the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito are offering free admission (to all Bay Area residents at the AAM, and to fire evacuees and members of the Children's Museum of Sonoma County at the BADM) through the week as well.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by the fires in Northern California, especially in Sonoma County," the AAM wrote on Facebook Tuesday afternoon. "Beginning today and continuing through the week, the Asian Art Museum will be available as a free space to escape the smoke for all Bay Area residents. Simply visit our front desk to gain free general admission."

The de Young and the Legion of Honor have not made similar offers, but as of Oct. 19, the two San Francisco museums now offer free admission on Saturdays to all Bay Area residents.

If wildfire season bringing with it free museum days feels like a familiar phenomenon, you're not imagining things — last year, when smoke from the Camp Fire in Butte County blanketed the Bay Area, SFMOMA, the Asian Art Museum, the de Young, and Museum of the African Diaspora all waived admission fees. In 2017, many did the same during the Wine Country wildfires.

Madeline Wells is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: madeline.wells@sfgate.com | Twitter: @madwells22

More Kincade Fire coverage:

— Kincade Fire now at 75,415 acres with high winds coming

— Wind event: Strongest gusts forecast for the North Bay Tuesday night

— Maps: Kincade Fire burning in north Sonoma County

— Road closures, evacuation shelter locations near Kincade Fire

— PG&E begins cutting power to 596,000 California customers Tuesday

— What to do to keep wildfire smoke out of your house

— Full California wildfire coverage