| Oct. 26, 2007 As wildfires
continue to burn in the Southland, air quality will remain unhealthful today
in areas directly impacted by smoke.
In other areas not directly impacted by smoke, air pollution officials
predict that air quality will be unhealthy for sensitive individuals, with
air quality in coastal and valley areas of Los Angeles County improving to
moderate levels.
Areas forecast
to have unhealthful air quality today are the central San Bernardino
Mountains, including Lake Arrowhead; portions of the San Bernardino Valley
from Fontana to Yucaipa; portions of Riverside County from Corona to
Temecula Valley and the Saddleback Valley area in Orange County.
In areas where unhealthful air quality is forecast, as well as anywhere
that smoke is seen or smelled or ash is falling:
- everyone should avoid all vigorous exertion, indoors or out;
- residents with heart disease, respiratory diseases including asthma,
as well as the elderly and children should remain indoors;
- keep windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot inside. In
these cases, seek alternate shelter; and
- turn on an air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake
closed and the filter clean to minimize outdoor smoke entering the house.
Air quality officials especially urge schools, day care centers and
sports coaches to not allow children to exercise – whether outdoors or
inside – during unhealthful air quality conditions.
At levels unhealthy for sensitive groups, sensitive or susceptible
individuals, such as those with heart or lung disease, should minimize
outdoor activity.
Wildfire smoke contains numerous pollutants including microscopic
particles known as PM10 and PM2.5. For a printable fact sheet containing
tips to avoid health impacts from the smoke, see
http://www.aqmd.gov/pubinfo/factsheets.htm on AQMD’s website.
In addition, the California Air Pollution Control
Officer’s Association (CAPCOA) has more information available on the topic “How
to Protect Your Family from the Health Effects of Smoke.” For local air quality information, AIRNow, a
cross-agency US Government website which focuses on ozone and particulate
pollution, has both current Air Quality Indices (AQI) and forecasts
available through their website at:
http://www.airnow.gov
.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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