| August 29, 2009 Air
quality officials have issued another smoke advisory today for areas of the
Southland affected by the ongoing wildfires.
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.
Wildfire smoke settled into valleys last night near the fires. Smoke will
likely linger in these areas until this afternoon when onshore ocean breezes
are expected to move smoke across the valleys and into the mountains.
Unhealthy air quality will occur in areas directly impacted by
smoke, especially near the fires. These areas will likely include:
- portions of the San Gabriel Mountains;
- the West San Bernardino Mountains;
- the Santa Clarita Valley;
- portions of the San Fernando Valley;
- the East San Gabriel Valley;
- the West San Gabriel Valley; and
- the Hemet/San Jacinto Area.
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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