| August 26, 2009 Air
quality officials have issued a smoke advisory today for areas of the
Southland impacted by smoke from the wildfire in the San Gabriel Canyon area
of the Angeles National Forest.
All individuals are urged to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary
outdoor activities in any area directly impacted by smoke. This includes
areas where residents can see or smell smoke.
Air quality may reach the Unhealthy level in the San Gabriel Valley and
San Bernardino Valley areas, including the San Gabriel and San Bernardino
mountain areas. Areas of direct smoke impacts will likely include:
• portions of the San Gabriel Mountains;
• the west San Bernardino Mountains;
• the east San Gabriel Valley;
• portions of the South San Gabriel Valley;
• portions of the Pomona/Walnut Valley;
• the northwest San Bernardino Valley;
• the southwest San Bernardino Valley;
• the central san Bernardino Valley; and
• the east San Bernardino Valley
Wildfires generate smoke containing numerous air pollutants including fine
particulates known as PM10 and PM2.5.
In areas with Unhealthy air quality and those directly impacted by smoke:
Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with
respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain
indoors. Keep your windows and doors closed unless it is extremely hot
inside. In these cases, seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if
you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to
prevent bringing additional smoke inside.
For regularly updated air quality information, see the air quality map at
www.aqmd.gov. For more tips on avoiding health impacts from the smoke, see
http://www.aqmd.gov/ej/CAC/wildfire_safety_tips.htm
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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