Clean Air Centers

In June 2024, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), in collaboration with local air pollution control districts, launched an interactive Clean Air Center map which displays locations of both permanent and temporary Clean Air Centers throughout California. The Clean Air Centers provide a safe place for residents in impacted communities to go when air quality is poor due to wildfire smoke. The map (linked in the image below), which displays the locations of each center, information related to them, and the services offered, may be accessed via this external link: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/cleanaircenters.

Assembly Bill 836

Assembly Bill 836  (AB 836) provided $5 million in statewide funding to create a Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for Vulnerable Populations Incentive Pilot Program to upgrade ventilation systems and provide portable air cleaners to create a network of Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers for residents displaced by wildfires and other smoke events. CARB is administering a statewide AB 836 program and providing grant funding to air districts to implement their own AB 836 programs. South Coast AQMD deployed $250,000 in portable air cleaners at Wildfire Smoke Clean Air Centers in its region.

For further information on AB 836 including the statewide program and guidelines administered by CARB, please click here:
https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/wildfire-smoke-clean-air-center-grant

The Los Angeles and Orange County American Red Cross and the IQAir Foundation were selected to deploy portable air cleaners. The air cleaners met CARB and South Coast AQMD selection criteria, including the use of HEPA filters, efficiency of 99.97% or higher, CARB certification on the CARB portable air cleaner list, less than 0.050ppm ozone, Energy Star or UL safety certification, clean air delivery rate (CADR) certified by Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) or equivalent certification by a National Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), CADR rating of 97+ for smoke, and cubic feet per minute (CFM) capabilities of greater than 150.

Starting with the 2023 fire season, portable air cleaners have been deployed at multiple locations commonly used by the American Red Cross in its disaster relief efforts. These locations include K-12 public schools, community centers, and community colleges. Vulnerable populations displaced by wildfires will be served by deployment of wildfire smoke clean air centers deployed in close proximity to the wildfires.

The South Coast AQMD AB 836 program is unique in deploying portable air cleaners which vary in deployment sites. American Red Cross deploys clean air centers typically on 24 hours or less notice and flexibility in locating centers in closest proximity to vulnerable populations displaced by wildfires is of paramount concern. To the extent possible, AB 617 or overburdened communities are prioritized but wildfire smoke clean air centers cannot be located exclusively in these types of communities. South Coast AQMD is committed to supporting the efforts of the IQAir Foundation and the American Red Cross as it integrates portable air cleaners into its existing disaster relief operations to create a network of clean air centers in the South Coast AQMD region.